DISTRICT councillor Duncan Enright was right when he said there were a lot of people relying more heavily on public transport at the moment.

So the idea of cutting bus services across West Oxfordshire will come as an unpleasant shock to many.

People without private transport could be left in an awkward position.

But Oxfordshire County Council says it might have to cut back on funding bus services in the Witney, Woodstock and Chipping Norton area to save money.

They say it is the least-used services which will be first to face the cut, such as the X9, between Chipping Norton, Charlbury and Witney, on a Friday and Saturday evening.

That in turn could have a knock-on effect on the number of people going out in those towns at the weekend, which will only stymie economic recovery in the district more.

Other services which could be cut include the 113, between Burford and Carterton, and the 233, through Chipping Norton, Kingham, Fifield, Milton, Shipton, Burford and Witney.

A consultation is under way currently, and many West Oxford residents will be hoping that it is not their bus which will be cut.

Once a service has been axed, it will be a lot harder to get it back. Many people will be hoping that the county can ride out its current financial problems and reach the other side before it is too late.