RESIDENTS in Kidlington and Yarnton have been warned to make use of their bus local services or risk losing them permanently.

Operators Go Ride has announced they will be continuing community bus services in the two villages despite subsidies for buses being cut by the county council.

Residents have now been told to use to use the buses more to make sure they are viable for operators.

Foxdown Close resident Chris Robins, who used to cover transport matters for the parish council, said the closure of services would spell bad news for elderly people from both villages.

The former civil servant, 71, said: "There are commercial buses which go into the city but sadly the smaller ones are not quite as well used.

"They serve the estates and are quite well-used by elderly people as they take them closer to their homes than the other services would."

It comes after Oxfordshire County Council announced it would axe the payments towards 118 services to save £3.7 million a year.

Mr Robins added: "For people in Yarnton Kidlington is the local shopping centre. A lot of them do not have another means of transport to get between the two villages.

"If the buses do go it means they will be reliant on people giving them lifts, it is not the same as being able to hop on a bus.

"I am cautiously optimistic about the services continuing, the companies have picked the routes they think have potential. It really is 'use it or lose it'."

Routes that will continue include the K1, which goes from Tesco's to Spruce Road and back and the K2/K3 services which go via The Moors, Langford Lane, Begbroke and Yarnton.

All three routes are operated by GoRide, but will be run with reduced timetables and increases in fares.

The Thames Travel 25 service, which runs from Bicester to Oxford via Kidlington, will not run after July 23, while the Go Ride W10 service from Woodstock to Oxford Parkway will stop on July 20.

There will be no changes to commercial services run between Oxford and the two villages, including the number 2 service.

Alan Graham, transport representative for Kidlington Parish Council, said it was important all senior citizens who have bus passes make use of the services.

He added: "We want to encourage people to use the services otherwise we will find that they do not keep going. They are very important for the community.

"The county council pay back money for the bus passes to the operator so if people have one it's important that they optimise its use.

"It's very difficult to know if the services will continue, but they provide over and above the main route like the two buses.

"It is important for Kidlington that they continue."

Go Ride managing director Dave Harrison said late afternoon services on K2 and K3 were being withdrawn as they were being lightly used, and W10 was being cut as passenger numbers were insufficient to cover the costs of operation.