SHOPPERS heading from west Oxfordshire to Cheltenham on Saturdays will see their bus service doubled from December.

In addition to the current afternoon round trip to the Gloucestershire town, operator Pulhams, of Bourton-on-the-Water, will launch a morning service as well, after the route was re-tendered by Oxfordshire County Council.

Heyfordian Travel’s 23A between Chipping Norton, Great Tew, Middle Barton and Steeple Aston will run on Wednesdays only from December, with the Saturday service withdrawn.

Due to the recent collapse of Witney firm RH Transport, routes 243 (Witney-Finstock-Combe), C1/T1 (Charlbury railbus), X8 (Kingham railbus), and X9 (Witney-Charlbury-Chipping Norton) will be offered for tender again by Oxfordshire County Council next year.