First Great Western managers have thanked Oxford rail commuters for pulling out of a proposed fares strike today.

Campaigners at 20 stations in the South West handed out fake tickets to passengers to show their displeasure at unreliable services in recent years. Some wore cattle masks as they boarded trains.

FGW said fewer than 100 passengers had refused to pay for their tickets as part of the protest.

Members of OxRail Action decided last week they would not participate in the protest, after a meeting with FGW's chief operating officer Andrew Haines.

FGW spokesman Adrian Ruck said: "We have monitored the claims of a fares strike and, on trains and stations across the network, fewer than 100 people refused to pay - out of 100,000 daily passengers and 1,350 daily services.

"We have taken the names and addresses of this tiny percentage of customers - this is the usual policy for fares evaders.

"We welcome the moves by Ox Rail Action and the Newbury Rail Passenger Association, to withdraw from the 'strike' to continue dialogue with First Great Western.

"First Great Western is taking steps to improve its service and offer enhanced compensation."