Pensioners have been left stranded and facing difficult journeys to their nearest doctor after a city bus service was cancelled.

Bodley Road and Herschel Crescent services in Littlemore, Oxford, were taken off the number 16A route on Saturday because longer buses now used to run the service from Minchery Farm to the city centre cannot get into small roads.

Oxford Bus Company's marketing manager Jonathan Radley said taking the two roads off the 16A's route was also part of a wider package of cuts to services across the city, due to a driver shortage.

Hilda Beesley, 72, of Bodley Road, said many of her neighbours were already finding it difficult to get about.

She said: "The nearest place to get the 16A is Newman Road or Mayfair Road, but it's quite a walk for elderly people. Not everyone can drive and taxis are expensive.

"One lady suffers with chronic asthma and says the change means she is house-bound. Another lady has to visit the health centre every other day, but must now walk further and in pain.

"I have lived here 46 years and we had to fight to get a bus. Now it's been taken away."

Mum-of-three, Marie Thomas, of Bodley Road, said: "It's totally outrageous to withdraw a service which transports people both to local shops and, more importantly, to local doctors. I find it absurd that this vital route has been withdrawn."

Mr Radley said he sympathised, but the driver shortage was out of the company's control. He said: "We are using bigger, 40-seater single deckers buses in order to accommodate everyone. We simply cannot get into these small roads because there are tight corners and lots of parked cars."