BUS services have been withdrawn from Oxford Station for the fourth day this week as operators battle against severe congestion.

Oxford Bus Company announced on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday that stationary traffic in the area of Frideswide Square had led it to drop passengers in the city centre instead.

And this afternoon it has again announced the services will avoid the station area.

It said its 5, 13 ,X3 and 4C routes would all terminate at the city centre and apologised to customers.

On Tuesday - the only day it did not pull services to the station - it reported delays of 45 minutes.

Kidlington teaching assistant Emily Clatworthy, 22, said: “It is an absolute joke. It’s bad enough that the roads are so terrible for drivers, they shouldn't punish people getting public transport too."

And retired construction worker Dean Harper, 72, of Summertown said: “All I want to do is get to Summertown.

"I’m too old to be walking all over the place and I can’t find anyone to tell me where I need to go to find the right bus.”

This afternoon roadworks at the Wolvercote and Cutteslowe roundabouts continue to snarl up approaches to North Oxford and temporary traffic lights on Botley Road have caused near-gridlock in both directions.

The heavy traffic also affected Stagecoach Oxfordshire's buses, which has tweeted delays of 25 minutes to its S2 service, running along Woodstock Road.

Roadworks and traffic on Cowley Road have also seen diversions put in place, causing delays to the 10 route.