ITV has refused to discuss reinstating news anchorman Wesley Smith despite a call for his return from almost 2,400 viewers.

In the past four weeks, hundreds of you have signed our petition to return the presenter and his programme Thames Valley Tonight to the region’s television screens.

On Thursday, the Oxford Mail delivered the petition to the offices of ITV in central London.

But, despite the volume of signed forms, the television company’s spokesman refused to talk about reintroducing Mr Smith.

Mr Smith presented ITV Thames Valley Tonight until the programme was taken off air in February. ITV merged the show with three other news bulletins. Its replacement programme, Meridian Tonight, is broadcast from Southampton and covers eight counties.

Oxfordshire viewers, dismayed at the loss of Mr Smith, called and wrote to the Oxford Mail in droves to complain. Their pleas prompted the Mail to start a Save Wesley campaign.

Ramona Reay, from Woodstock, said: “Wesley was a steady cheerful person giving out Oxfordshire news.

“He was a familiar face in an ever-changing world. “ Fellow fan Sheila Cooper, from Yarnton, called on ITV to bring back Mr Smith and his former colleagues Hannah Shelswell and Mary Green.

She said: “In these days when the news is all doom and gloom, their friendly and fun way of presenting local news made one feel that life does go on and it’s not all difficult and hopeless.

“They should bring them back.”

Daphne Moore, from Stubbs Avenue, Headington, Oxford, added: “I miss Wesley’s smiling face. I just haven’t been able to watch ITV news since Wes left.”

ITV spokesman James MacLeod met us to receive the campaign entries, but would not talk about reinstating the programme or its popular anchorman.

He said ITV was grateful for the comments, but added: “ITV’s restructure of its regional news services was approved by Ofcom in January, following an extensive consultation process involving viewers, staff, politicians, and regulators, and a new programme for Meridian was launched on February 9.

“On-screen changes often generate a great deal of comment and debate, but we can reassure our viewers that we constantly review the balance of our programmes to ensure that the Oxfordshire area is well covered.”

Mr Smith is currently working with Last of the Summer Wine star Peter Sallis on a stage show, An Audience with Peter Sallis.

He thanked Oxford Mail readers for their support, and said he would wait to see what happened as a result of the campaign.

He said: “This is a huge response from the loyal viewers of Oxfordshire. I am delighted that the campaign may result in more stories for our area.”

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk