A BUS route through Stratton which was controversially axed could return in some form.

Residents protested when Thamesdown Transport decided to terminate the number 20 service that ran along Ermin Street between the Kingsdown and Crown Inn pubs in 2015.

Parish councillors brainstormed several ways to give residents along the road a public transport option, such as the set-up of a charitable community benefit society that would run a bus service that would cover the same ground as the removed route.

They had been inspired by a similar scheme in another county - West Oxfordshire Community Transport in Witney.

An in-depth report compiled by Coun Barry Jennings after visiting the society with Coun Anne Brooker described the costs and organisational matters required to put it all together.

The report is available to view on the parish council's website.

Coun Matthew Davis said: "Witney can afford to chuck money at community projects but this could push up our precept again."

Coun Joe Tray said: "It's a complete non-starter, it will be a tremendous financial burden on us to pay for two buses, admin, drivers, and maintenance."

Coun Teresa Page said: "We collected 2,000 signatures protesting the withdrawing of the number 20 and it did nothing.

"We as a parish don't have the money to set something up ourselves, so we need to pout our energy into re-routing an existing bus service."

Other options included approaching Thamesdown Transport, which has come under new ownership and been renamed Swindon Bus Company since the number 20 was withdrawn, and see if its new bosses would like to reinstate it in exchange for a small subsidy.

Councillors decided to speak to bus companies and find out if one would be willing to reroute a bus along Ermin Street.

Holding a public meeting to gauge the appetite for this service was also suggested.