Pensioners fear changes to an Oxford bus service could leave them unable to meet doctor's appointments.

Stagecoach has taken over the Oxford Bus Company's 16 and 16a services from Little- more.

From June 4, it plans to terminate the 16a, which serves Herschel Crescent, at Cowley Centre, instead of in the city centre, forcing passengers to hop on to the 16 service into town.

In addition, it has cut the number of direct buses from Minchery Farm to the city centre, from two an hour to one.

Users claim the changes will make it impossible to get to appointments on time at Donn- ington Health Centre, off Iffley Road. Many will no longer be able to get there directly and others will have longer to wait for a bus.

Pensioner Hilda Beesley, of Bodley Road, Littlemore, said: "It's going to take twice the time at least to get to the health centre. How are people going to meet appointments?

"You can't alter a doctor's surgery to suit everyone in Littlemore. They should have discussed it with the community before making the changes."

City councillor Gill Saunders, who represents Little- more, said: "In my view, it's an unacceptable imposition for older people who frequently need to attend doctor's surgeries and are not always able to stand for long periods."

Stagecoach spokesman Chris Childs said the firm had won the tender for the service from Oxford City Council after submitting a proposal. He said the company would increase the frequency of buses to Cowley Centre.

There would be two an hour from Herschel Crescent and three an hour from Minchery Farm. He added: "We looked into it and we believed more people just wanted to go to Cowley centre, making a short journey then going all the way into the city centre, and that's something the council obviously agreed with."