A combined county council division for Wantage and Grove is to be created, despite strong opposition from both communities.

The Electoral Commission has decided to approve the proposal to create a combined Grove and Wantage division, served by two councillors.

It will replace the two separate divisions for Wantage and Grove, which are presently represented by a councillor each.

The new division will come into effect at elections next May.

The proposal to create the combined division was made by the Boundary Committee for England following its review of Oxfordshire County Council's electoral arrangements.

Both Wantage Town Council and Grove Parish Council objected to the suggestion. They said that the two divisions represented distinct communities.

Concerns have also been raised that the public may become confused over which councillor to contact.

Zoe Patrick, the county's member for Grove, said: "A lot of people hadn't wanted Wantage and Grove to be put together because they are two separate communities."

Parish council chairman Frank Parnell said: "We are very disappointed that they appear to have not listened to us. We feel quite strongly that we would like a county councillor to represent us."

The recommendations made by the Boundary Committee aim to ensure that the number of electors represented by each councillor are as similar as possible.