A TORY councillor has won support from more than 500 residents with a call for a bus service to return to its original route.

Sweyne Park Rochford district councillor Joan Mockford wants First Buses to re-route the number 24 service back along London Road and into the Little Wheatleys area in Rayleigh.

First has diverted the service, which runs from Southend to Rayleigh, via Leigh and Hadleigh, to serve the new Asda store in Rawreth Lane.

The bus firm has claimed in the past the move was due to public demand, and in any case, another service still ran on London Road.

However, Mrs Mockford says residents in her ward are "furious" about the change. She explained: "We now only have two buses an hour going through to Basildon from Southend.

"They are very unreliable, very often late and, on occasions, are cut altogether.

"The remaining service does not have the same route as the 24, which means residents in this area can no longer get to Sainsbury's at Rayleigh Weir, or Morrisons in Hadleigh, without changing buses.

"It was also used regularly by people to go to matinees at the Cliffs Pavilion.

"This route was well used, not only by the elderly with concessionary fares, but people going to work, children going to school and students travelling to college."

Mrs Mockford said many people in the area did not drive and so relied on public transport.

She added: "The Government is trying to get people out of cars and on to public transport, but how is this possible if there is no public transport to use?"

The petition will be presented at Rochford District Council's west area committee meeting on Thursday, when representatives of the bus company are due to be present.

The meeting starts in Rawreth Village Hall, in Church Road, at 7.30pm and is open to the public.