OVER 200 people have signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of bus stops in villages near Upton.

District councillor Jeremy Owenson set up the petition in January in a bid to reopen the former stops in Ripple, Naunton and Uckinghall.

First Bus stopped its 363 service from detouring to these villages around five months ago, due to a lack of use.

The TURNbac campaign was launched after elderly residents complained about being 'marooned' in their villages.

Roger Spencer, aged 75, of Rectory Lane, Ripple, said one of his neighbours relied on the bus for social interaction.

He said: "She can't drive, she's 80 and she's isolated. She made friends on the bus.

"You could tell by the way her face lit up when talking to me about people she encountered. She has food delivered but there's nothing like mixing with people.

"To do this she has taxis - which when you're on a pension is not cheap. Elderly people are marooned."

He added that the changes have also had unforeseen effects, such as when a potential buyer for his home backed out after they found out about the closed bus stops.

He also said the local pub has been hurt as it lost customers who used visit on the bus every week.

Mr Spencer said: "A lot of us agreed that if it [the service] was returned we would make an attempt to use it more regularly."

A First bus used to visit the village twice a day, Mr Spencer said.

Trish Payne, aged 86, of Green Street, Naunton, said she was 'stranded' in her village.

She added: "They expect us to walk 1.8 miles to the official bus stop [at The Blue Bell Inn].

"It's an infringement on our independence. What about those who are ageing? When they don't have their cars what will happen then?

"My neighbour next door has peripheral damage, she can't drive. My neighbour across the road used the bus for 14 years, she can't drive.

"I was driving this time last year but I went to the opticians and they said go to your doctors and the next thing DVLA stopped me driving.

"My husband drives but he might not be able to next year. We need the bus back in Naunton. I need to be independent."

Mrs Payne, who has celiac disease, said she wants the bus service to return so she can get the food she requires from specific shops and take part in other activities.

A community bus service takes Naunton villagers to Upton every Friday morning and ferries them back home just after noon.

Sarah East, head of operations at First Worcester said: "We have not run a bus service to these villages for over 5 months now. We have no immediate plans to reinstate a bus service to serve the villages.”

Cllr Owenson started the petition in early January and has so far gathered about 200 signatures.

He said: "It [the service] is not coming through the villages at all.

"The bus zooms down the A38 and doesn't divert. We want to work with county councillor Paul Middlesbrough.

"He has told us that in Wychavon the residents did work with the bus company and managed to reschedule the routes to keep the service running in reduced days.

"This area has a large number of elderly people who are reliant on cars and we want to ensure those people can remain mobile.

"As and when they can't drive we must make sure they have access to public transport."