Residents are campaigning against changes to a bus route which they say will leave them without a direct link to the city centre.

From Sunday extra buses were added to the 645 Buttershaw to Greengates service through the city centre and Ravenscliffe, allowing the service to run every ten minutes during weekdays.

But at Greengates the First Bradford service now terminates at Redcar Road and no longer serves the New Line, Harrogate Road and Rimswell Holt loop.

Residents have set up a petition in protest at the changes, about which they say they have not been given chance to object.

They held a signing session at the local Netto store where bus users joined the campaign for the service to be changed back.

A spokesman for the residents said for some of them reaching the nearest bus stop would now mean a considerable walk for passengers living on the Greengates estate, causing difficulties to elderly and disabled residents.

Linda Morgan, of Greengates, said: “They have not even tried to listen to any feedback from people who use the bus. The new timetables are already up and we’ve had no chance to object.”

Councillor Chris Greaves, chairman of West Yorkshire’s Integrated Transport Authority, Metro, said: “Most bus services are commercial and the operator, any operator, can change the service with 56 days’ notice.

“As an authority we have got no say in it – it’s a commercial decision made by them.”

In December First announced it would keep bus fares frozen for the foreseeable future and said it was preparing changes to its timetable to ensure more punctual services.

At the time Ian Humphreys, managing director for First in West and North Yorkshire, said: “In recent months we have simplified our fares structure across some of our network, notably in Leeds.

“We have demonstrated that by trying a new and innovative way of marketing our services then more people have been encouraged onto our buses.”

First Bradford has introduced changes to services across the district.

For more information or to view the new bus timetables, visit firstgroup.com.