CAMPAIGNING councillors have launched a cross-party crusade for a better bus service for parts of West Rayleigh.

The move follows the re-routing of the First Group No 24 service, from Southchurch, to serve the new Asda store in Rawreth Lane.

This has cut back the number of buses serving the Little Wheatleys and London Road areas of the town to just two an hour - the lowest number since the Second World War.

Joan Mockford, Conservative councillor in Sweyne Park Ward, and Chris Lumley, Lib Dem member for Grange, have joined forces to fight for improved bus services in the area.

A joint petition, with hundreds of signatures, was handed by Rayleigh Tory MP Mark Francois to First Essex Buses' managing director, Bob Dorr.

Mr Dorr has agreed to attend a public meeting to listen to the concerns of local people. It is being held at St Michael's Church, in Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, on Tuesday, June 17, at 7.30 pm.

Mrs Mockford said: "There is an increasing number of elderly people living in the area and they need to have better public transport rather than less.

"There were four buses an hour along the London Road and through Little Wheatleys, going to Rayleigh, only two years ago. Now that number has been halved.

"I hope as many people as possible will turn up at the meeting."

Mr Lumley said there had been close co-operation between the two political parties on the issue.

He added: "We are hoping Mr Dorr will listen to local feeling and see what can be done to improve our service."

First Essex Buses said the route was changed because of pressure to provide a service to the new Asda store, in Rawreth Lane, and it would not be viable to provide an extra service.