STAFF shortages that have led to early closing at Oxford railway station’s ticket office have been labelled an ‘embarrassment’.

Hugh Jaeger, spokesman for the Oxford branch of Bus Users UK, spotted closure signs at the ticket office window at the weekend.

Signs advised passengers that the office would only operate from 9am to 3.30pm on Saturday and Sunday due to severe staff shortages.

Mr Jaeger said: “Oxford is the busiest station in Oxfordshire. It handles more than six and a half million passengers a year. At weekends its booking office is normally open from 7.30am–8pm on Saturdays and 7.15am to 8pms on Sundays. Weekend staffing of the office seems to have been reduced from two shifts to one.

“For years I have almost always found Oxford GWR station staff friendly and good-humoured.”

Mr Jaeger, who highlighted the staffing issue on Twitter, said: “One reply pointed out that as Oxford is one of Britain’s main tourist destinations, the closure is an embarrassment.”

Great Western Railway spokesman James Davis said: “We had to reduce the hours of the ticket office over the weekend because of short-notice staff sickness. We apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused.”