THE sudden axing of a bus service between Okehampton and Exeter has sparked outrage among commuters and councillors in the town.

The number 171 First bus service to Exeter left Okehampton at 7.15am for its last run towards the end of last month.

Okehampton town councillor Mrs Sheila Gregory, one of the passengers who used the 171 each morning, was furious at the axing of the service.

She said: ?People are getting to work late. One person has even had to give up their job because of the change in the times,? she said.

Cllr Gregory said the bus service between Okehampton and Exeter now left at 7.25am, but being ten minutes later caused problems for those who had to be in Exeter at certain times.

?People are arriving later and can not make train connections. It is an absolute shambles,? she said.

David Saunders, who lives in Okehampton and used the service, said the cancellation of the 171 bus would result in more cars on the congested roads into Exeter.

?Passengers were mystified as to why Devon County Council, having pledged to support the 171 service for five years, just dropped it without any prior consultation.? he said.

Mr Saunders said fellow passengers felt the end of the service was a disappointing day for those commuters who genuinely tried to support sustainable transport.

He said he was a keen supporter of the project to have a ?park and ride? railway station at Okehampton with a daily service to Exeter and back.

?It seems perfectly obvious that a daily train service to Exeter from a ?park and ride? station in Okehampton would positively benefit the whole of mid and West Devon,? he said.

Town councillors discussed the changes in the service at a meeting of the policy and resources committee last week.

They agreed to write to Devon County Council explaining that the replacement service was causing problems for the community and asking it to reconsider the decision to stop the funding for the 171 service.

Sarah Pinch, regional spokeswoman for First, said: ?We are aware that the early morning service has been cut.

?We will be reviewing the decision in the coming months, as part of our review of Devon services.

?The 171 was a tendered service and the tender was not renewed by Devon County Council.?

Ms Pinch said First had altered the X9 and X10 routes to allow for the lack of a 171 service, although she appreciated there was a difference in timings.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said the 171 was one of several which First had found uneconomic to run.

She said: ?We have looked at the costs and passenger numbers and I?m afraid they don?t meet the criteria set down for supporting the service.

?There are alternatives for most people, although they might not suit everyone.?