The handiwork of an artistic Kingston teenager will soon be seen travelling through the borough on the side of a new community bus.

Richmond and Kingston Accessible Transport (RaKAT) was handed the keys to the latest addition to its fleet this week – a £65,000 minibus named Marigold.

The dark blue 15-seater takes its name from the painting of a plant that adorns the side of the vehicle - drawn by 18-year-old Daniel Oliver.

Daniel visited RaKAT’s headquarters behind the North Kingston Centre in Richmond Road this week, to see Marigold unveiled.

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Daniel Oliver, next to the bus artwork he designed

He was joined by Fran O’Brien, founder of Young and Disabled and Positively Artistic (YADAPA), which Daniel used to attend and now works as a volunteer.

Mrs O’Brien said: “If it wasn’t for RaKAT’s accessible transport our young people wouldn’t be able to get to us, and we wouldn’t exist.

“It really is a fabulous service.”

It is the fifth minibus to be donated to RaKAT by the Victoria Foundation – a philanthropic medical trust based in Richmond.

Victoria Foundation chairman Graham Ball said: “We are extremely happy to support RaKat, who do a tremendous job of supporting people in the community and provide an important lifeline.

“There are people who would not go out of the house were it not for RaKat.”

RaKAT chief executive Nigel Newby said: “It’s very difficult for us to raise funds for accessible buses and the ongoing contribution made by the Victoria Foundation is priceless.

“Without it, we wouldn’t be able to maintain the services we do at the moment.”