Disabled travellers in Banbury are being diverted to railway stations as far away as Oxford and Leamington Spa while work is carried out on the town's lifts.

Train operator Chiltern Railways has promised to provide a free taxi service to disabled travellers forced to travel up to 20 miles before catching trains.

The installation of passenger operated lifts is the final stage of a £2m renovation package at Banbury station.

The station was updated and re-opened in 2000 -- and at the time, Chiltern Railways promised that the lifts would be improved.

Chiltern Railways has warned that there will no lifts at the station until the end of September, and have advised disabled passengers to use other stations.

They are telling disabled travellers heading to or from the London Marylebone direction to use Bicester North, and those going to or from Reading, London Paddington, and the south coast, to use Oxford. Passengers travelling to or arriving from the north are being advised to use Leamington Spa.

The cost of a taxi from Oxford to Banbury is £36-£47, from Bicester it is £18 and from Leamington Spa it is £20-£30.