ELDERLY residents fear they will be left "stranded" from this morning as more than 50 bus services are axed across the county.

The impact of Oxfordshire County Council's decision to cut funding from 118 services will be felt for the first time today as many routes are discontinued or changed.

The number 17, which had run from Cutteslowe to the city centre – as well as Marston and the John Radcliffe Hospital in the evenings, will only run between Jericho and Oxford from today onwards.

Yvonne Buck, 76 from Cutteslowe, used the bus regularly to go shopping and for medical appointments. She said she would be left "stranded" by the cuts.

She said: "It's going to affect so many people. I took the bus into town on its last day and there were plenty of people at the bus stop.

"I honestly don't know what I'm going to do from now on. I use it everyday to go the shops and doctor appointments, I'm disgusted by it all.

The grandmother-of-sixteen, who has a heart problem which means she gets out of breath easily, added: "I walk with a four-wheeled frame and I'm not going to be able to get around."

Hawksmoor Road Eileen Healy suffers from arthritis and is another regular number 17 user.

The 78-year-old said: "I have very bad arthritis and heart problems which makes it very difficult for me to walk.

"At the moment I can jump on the bus at 9.45am and be at a doctor's appointment in Jericho just after 10am.

"With the walking and changing of buses it will probably take nearer two hours and will be a lot of effort if I can manage"

Secretary of the Oxfordshire branch of the National Pensioners Convention and Summertown resident John Paine said that elderly people were being "discriminated" against.

He said pensioners had a free bus pass but would no longer have a bus to use it on.

He said: "The people of Cutteslowe and Kendall Crescent localities who rely on the 17 bus will be devastated by the loss of that service.

"Once again older people and those with mobility problems are only offered a chance to pay for a possible replacement to their vital bus - their free bus pass won't cover it.

He added: "The County Council has ensured that within Oxford City older people are discriminated against."

County councillor for Wolvercote and Summertown, Jean Fooks said: "I totally understand people being so angry about this.

"It's an awful cut to people's quality of life - I'm exploring the options at the moment regarding the minibus service but also the possibility of North Oxford Association neighbourly help service to take people to hospital appointments."