Abingdon's direct hospital bus service to Oxford is being revived after 18 months off the road.

The hospital service was dropped last year because of poor passenger figures.

But it is being restored because of the shift of hospital services from the Radcliffe Infirmary to the John Radcliffe.

From Sunday, December 10, there will be a bus every 20 minutes on a new direct service from Abingdon to the JR via the city centre and Marston Road.

The new journeys will dovetail with the existing service from Abingdon to Oxford city centre and the railway station to provide a bus every 10 minutes from Abingdon to Oxford via the A34.

At peak times there will be an even more frequent service.

Oxford Bus Company is also asking Oxfordshire County Council to consider a new bus stop so passengers could pick up the new service on Abingdon Road, close to the Redbridge park-and-ride. The new stop would also need a new pedestrian crossing in Abingdon Road, which the company acknowledges would mean "considerable investment."

OBC general manager Louisa Weeks said: "The new services are being introduced to meet demand from our passengers.

"We withdrew the direct service to the JR last year because not enough people were using the service to justify the through running.

"Since then however there's been a dramatic change. Research shows that demand has increased and with new units opening at the hospital we feel the time is right to link Abingdon and the JR directly again."

Ken Plummer, 87, from Appleford Drive, Abingdon, attends the Eye Hospital at the Radcliffe Infirmary.

He said: "This is great news for patients. I used to drive to the park-and-ride and catch the bus that dropped me outside the Radcliffe Infirmary.

"From next month I will be able to travel direct from Abingdon when I have to attend the JR."

OBC is also improving the frequency of its 35A service between Didcot and Abingdon to cope with increasing demand.

It will run up to every 40 minutes in the morning and evening peak hours.

It will also act as a feeder service to the X13 hospital buses, providing a link for workers and visitors to the John Radcliffe from Didcot and surrounding villages.

The South Abingdon Tithe Barn and Ladygrove Residents Association, which has been campaigning for improved bus services, welcomed the changes.

Treasurer Eleanor Dangerfield said: "We're absolutely thrilled that the bus company has taken notice of our concerns."