More than 70 pensioners staged a protest outside an Oxford health centre yesterday after changes to a bus timetable left them facing a two-hour round trip to the doctor.

Earlier this year, when Oxfordshire County Council reviewed its subsidised services, Stagecoach took over the running of the 16 and 16A services from Little- more to Oxford.

County council leaders pledged that the service would be improved following earlier protests, but pensioners say this has not been the case.

Many are now paying up to £8 for a return taxi ride from Littlemore to their surgery at Donnington Health Centre in Iffley Road.

Doris Plummer, 82, of Herschel Crescent, Littlemore, said: "The service is not as good as it was and we want the old one back.

"You can't get to the health centre as easily and a lot of elderly people are being forced to get a taxi."

Since June, the 16a, which serves Herschel Crescent, has terminated at Cowley shopping centre, instead of in the city centre, forcing passengers to switch to the 16 service into Oxford.

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

Yesterday, OAPs joined Labour councillors John and Gill Sanders, to protest at the changes, which they say are making them late for GP appointments.

Gill Sanders, who represents Littlemore ward, said: "It came as a shock to residents that instead of an improved service, what they actually had was a service which was far worse.

"Pensioners now have to wait around and change buses at Cowley centre.

"In the middle of winter that is not going to be possible for a lot of people."

Her husband, county councillor John Sanders, who represents Cowley and Littlemore, added: "The county council has got this wrong.

"It should pay the £10,000 or £20,000 a year that it takes to restore the service to what it was."

Edith Hack, 85, of Upton Close, Littlemore, also took part in the demonstration after catching the bus to the health centre.

She said: "The service is not as good as it used to be and that is why there are so many people taking part in this protest."

Stagecoach spokesman Chris Child said: "We have discussed the matter with the county council, but there are no plans to change the service at the moment, apart from a few timetable improvements."

David Robertson, the county council's cabinet member for transport, said: "It's not ideal if people are inconvenienced by changes in their bus service, especially when it provides important links to their health services.

"However, the new service that was introduced on June 1 provides a much better service for a good number of people.

"The previous service only had an average of 1.3 passengers per bus."