Pub locals have started a petition after brewers Greene King dropped Sky Sports from an Oxfordshire pub.

Nearly 200 customers of the Bowyer Arms in Radley, near Abingdon, are calling for the satellite channels to be reinstated after the brewers pulled the plug on satellite television while the manager was away.

Greene King said Sky was not profitable and the cost could not be justified.

The vicar of Radley, the Rev Tom Gibbons, said it was wrong to remove a popular facility in a community pub.

The manager of the Bowyer Arms, Eddie Cavanagh, returned from a skiing holiday in Andora with his wife Carol to find that Sky Sports had been removed.

Mr Cavanagh said: "I had no notification of the change and was taken by surprise.

"Sky Sports is very popular here with a lot of customers and I can understand their anger. We can still watch sport though on the terrestrial channels."

The regulars, led by the Rev Gibbons -- a keen rugby union and Newcastle United supporter -- began their protest campaign with a petition calling on Greene King to switch Sky back on.

He said: "Not everyone can afford to pay for Sky and so the service at the pub was valuable. It is a community pub and the big match sports helps make the pub what it is. I think trade will be hit unless Sky is returned."

Derek Parker, 67, and his wife Roseena, from Radley, are regular visitors to the village's only pub. He said: "It is a great pub and the new people have done a super job in attracting trade.

"Taking out Sky Sports is a big blow to us all. The move has stirred up a lot of anger among regulars and we want the service reinstated.

"There are people like us who cannot afford satellite. At a time when we are being urged not to drink and drive, this move is in danger of forcing people to get in their cars and drive to pubs in Abingdon where they can watch Sky Sports."

A spokesman for Greene King said: "Following price increases by Sky and the lack of increased view-sport custom, a business decision was made to remove the facility. The nearby College Oak pub in Peachcroft, Abingdon, has Sky television and welcomes customers for the major matches."

The licensee of another Greene King pub in Abingdon, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "I can understand the reason why Sky was removed. It costs £400 a month and you have to take out an annual contract. You would need a lot of custom and would need to take about £15,000 a year to make it worthwhile."