PEOPLE in Didcot and Wallingford are being called to a meeting tonight to stave off cuts to bus routes.

Routes in and around both towns are facing cuts because of "severe pressure" on Oxfordshire County Council's public transport budget, officers say.

Parish and town councils have already been asked to identify the "least painful way to make cost savings to the bus services" before January 7 next year.

John Wood, assistant passenger transport officer, said the public transport subsidy budget - which helps fund bus services - is already under severe pressure and savings are needed for the next financial year. Routes with the fewest passengers are most likely to be affected.

Mr Wood said: "The county council has adopted a policy of placing those routes with a high cost per passenger journey under particular scrutiny.

"Some reductions in frequency, longer routings to combine two services into one, or even complete service withdrawals are likely."

Alternatives could be community-based transport schemes, car sharing or allowing the public to use school bus services.

Tonight's open meeting to discuss the plans will be at Didcot Civil Hall, starting at 7pm. The county council will decide on cuts at a meeting on March 27.