A bus service, saved from the axe at the eleventh hour, will now offer passengers the chance to travel even further.

People living in Jericho, Oxford, were so angry when they were told their un-subsidised 61 service into Oxford city centre and back was being scrapped, they organised a petition in protest.

Oxfordshire County Council's environmental committee has now found £22,000 to keep it going until next April - and have announced the service will be an extension of the X39 to Wallingford and Henley. The service will run to and from Jericho once an hour, Monday to Saturday, between 7am and 6.30pm, and will make additional stops in Bainton Road and at Oxford rail station.

Campaigner Tania Walker, 87, said: "That's wonderful. Without the bus service, lots of people wouldn't be able to get into the city and would need helpers instead, which ends up costing the taxpayer.

"None of us could afford taxi fares. I'm glad the route has been extended as well."

The X39 is run without a subsidy by Thames Travel. Their Oxford-Wallingford-Henley route has only recently been introduced.

Dick Helling, the county's public transport officer, said: "This new service replaces the unsubsidised Oxford Bus Company service 61, which is about to be withdrawn. Thames Travel offered the best subsidy price for a replacement.

"Linking it with their existing service means that people from Henley and Wallingford will be able to get direct to the north side of the city and people from Jericho to the south side - or even to Henley!

"People from both ends will have a new link to the railway station. And I know many people in the Bainton Road area will be pleased to have a bus virtually to their door again."

Story date: Thursday 28 October

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.