A teenager who lost his job after cuts to bus services meant he could not get to work in time is leading calls from angry passengers for the services to be restored.

Joe Campbell, of Ashdown Way, Grove, near Wantage, has collected 320 signatures on a petition protesting at the reduced frequency of the 31 and 32 services between Wantage, Grove, Abingdon and Didcot.

Mr Campbell, 19, who cannot drive, decided to take action after he was laid off from his temporary job at Milton Park, near Didcot, because the new timetable meant he could not get into work for his 7am shift.

In August, Stagecoach abandoned the 32 service from Wantage to Abingdon via Grove and Didcot on a commercial basis but won the tender for the Monday to Saturday daytime service subsidised by Oxfordshire County Council, which is less frequent.

Mr Campbell said the changes had infuriated himself and other passengers from Wantage and Grove, who found it harder to get to and from work or college.

"I was really annoyed when I saw the timetable. I showed it to my boss and said the first bus I could get wouldn't get in until 8.30am. I asked if they could change my shift but they said I either got there at 7am or not at all."

Mr Campbell, who now has a new job, wants to collect 500 names and has asked Grove county councillor Zoe Patrick to present the petition.

David Whitley, for Stagecoach, said the timetable for the 32 service was set by the council. He said: "We are committed to running this service and if there have been problems I am sorry for that."

Dick Helling, public transport officer for the county council, said he regretted inconvenience caused by the reduced 32 service, but said the council had spent between £4-500,000 subsidising the route, which would have disappeared otherwise.

He said the council did not have funds in the bus subsidy budget to match the previous service.