BUS company bosses have campaigned to keep Queen Street in Oxford open for key routes.

So it was a surprise for passengers yesterday when one company tweeted that the route was closed to buses - when it isn’t.

Thames Travel, run by the same group as Oxford Bus Company tweeted: “Due to Queen St closure from 15th January-9th February we will be unable to serve the Westgate stop.

“Services will divert via St Aldates and The Plain, before resuming route from St Aldates.”

Following the mistweet Oxford Bus Company director Phil Southall said: “Oxfordshire County Council had planned to close Queen Street for three weeks to allow some construction work to be completed.

"However, following constructive discussion we managed to find an alternative solution that does not have such an impact on our services and passengers.

"The tweet was issued in error and swiftly deleted, to confirm Queen Street is open and our services are operating as normal."

Last year Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach in Oxfordshire were opposed to county council leaders who said the street should be pedestrianised to help Westgate shoppers.

The request to close the street was turned down by the Department for Transport and more data will now be gathered by the council in 2018.

County council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “It has always been planned that Queen Street would be closed for a time in the new year to allow contractors working for Westgate Oxford to complete work they were unable to do before the opening and the busy Christmas period.

“The bus companies have been kept fully updated throughout this period and have been able to plan for this. The road will only be closed when contractors working for Westgate Oxford require it. We have worked closely with Laings to reduce the impact.”