TWO bus drivers have been given surprise Christmas presents by villagers as thanks for their four years of top quality service on the community bus.

Brian Kilham, from Didcot, and Trevor Lewis, from Botley, were handed cheques for £100 from villagers at Appleton near Cumnor on their bus route as they did their last run for Windrush Transport.

A collection box in the community shop was filled with £200. Hills Nurseries in the village donated two bowls of hyacinths for the bus drivers' wives.

The pair have proved so popular that their minibus is filled with postcards sent by regular passengers while on holiday in places like Australia, Antarctica, Tahiti and all over Europe.

Speaking for villagers, Alan Feast, from Netherton Road, Appleton, said: "We have had the most wonderful service from these two drivers. They are friendly, they know the names of all their passengers, and they go the extra mile for them.

"It has been a pleasure being driven by them. The bus was small and cramped but it was very friendly and will be much missed."

The service known as the Village Carrier linked Oxford with the villages of Cumnor, Appleton, Fifield, Longworth, Hinton Waldrist and Kingston Bagpuize.

Windrush Transport director Martin Harding said: "These two drivers have been much appreciated by the communities they have served. They have given sterling service, much of it above and beyond their duties simply as drivers."

Mr Kilham will drive now for White's Transport and Mr Lewis is staying with Windrush. They did the return journey five times a day Monday to Friday.

Now a cut-down service has been taken over by White's Transport from Berinsfield which won the contract for the route from Oxfordshire County Council. There will be no service on Mondays and Thursdays.

A spokesman for the county council said: "The new operator is operating a slightly reduced service.

"The reason for this was that the cost per passenger journey was excessively high on this service, even though some days were busier than others.

"The new service will be operated with a low-floor easy-access bus suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The previous bus was a small 16-seater converted van.

"It will be much easier for all passengers to get on and off the new bus which has more available seats."