The Oxford Bus Company doubled the number of vehicles on a busy route to cope with demand, after passengers faced delays of up to 50 minutes.

Residents and councillors were told by Nigel Eggleton, commercial director of the company, that delays on the number 22 service to Risinghurst had been appalling since October.

Mr Eggleton came under fire from residents and councillors, who complained the service was not frequent enough.

They also said it was often crowded with Oxford Brookes University students.

Mr Eggleton said: "We have done something about the overloading, by bringing out four elderly double deckers, and last Friday we put six buses on to cover the 22 route, when we would usually have just three."

But he ruled out running the 22 service during the evenings and on Sundays.

A spokesman for the university said it was looking at the possibility of subsidising the bus service, but no decision had been taken.