PEOPLE in rural Oxfordshire rely on cars to reach towns because they don't have good enough services on their doorstep, according to a new survey.

The Rural Development Commission claims the county's village dwellers have a below-average provision of services, such as shops, post offices and public transport, forcing them to go elsewhere.

The group's Survey of Rural Services looked at more than 9,000 rural parishes in Britain with up to 10,000 or more people - and said a significant number of them lacked even the most basic services.

It found that 70 per cent of places had no general store, 43 per cent had no post office, 91 per cent had no bank or building society, 75 per cent lacked a daily bus service or community transport scheme and 99 per cent had no job centre or benefit agency office.

Anne Grindley, the RDC's South East regional manager, said: "Oxfordshire has below average levels of many services and the situation is not getting any better.

"Particularly hard hit are those looking for work or having to travel to work when they do not have their own transport."

Mr Miles Middleton, chairman of the RDC, added: "People living in the countryside are at a serious disadvantage. It is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive for rural people, particularly the immobile and those on low incomes, to reach many key services."

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