Joe Campbell makes his appeal to the transport committee

Joe Campbell, 19, from Grove near Wantage in Oxfordshire, had to find another job when changes to the service meant he could no longer get to work on time.

"I asked my boss if I could start at 0800 GMT as this is when the new first bus got there, but he said to me I either get there at 0700 GMT or not at all," said Mr Campbell.

He has now collected a 500-signature petition calling for more support for rural buses.

I think there are far more pressing needs crying out for money which would benefit a great number of people in the urban areas Councillor Ken Harper

Mr Campbell has found another job, but is still campaigning for an improved bus service.

"Public transport is actually a really key service to a community, because it allows people to do their daily things like go to town to do their shopping, to get to work, and just to go out and see family and do leisurely things that everybody needs to do," he said.

But councillors such as Ken Harper believe rural transport subsidies are a drain on already scarce resources.

Tough choices

"I don't see why council tax payers in the poorer parts of Oxfordshire, such as the area that I represent in Bretch Hill in Banbury, should be paying subsidies for bus services in affluent rural parts of the community.

"I think there are far more pressing needs crying out for money which would benefit a great number of people in the urban areas," said Mr Harper.

Councillor David Robertson, of the transport committee, said: "The county council's between the devil and the deep blue sea.

"At the end of the day, with the money I have available, I can only ever meet the need of a percentage of the residents of Oxfordshire."