More than 1,700 people have signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of a city park and ride bus service.

They have called on Brighton and Hove City Council to reintroduce the subsidised buses between the city centre and the Withdean Stadium car park, in north Brighton, which were axed last month.

The scheme was originally introduced to reduce congestion but was dropped because it had become too costly to run.

Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, which operated the service, said the council had withdrawn its subsidy for the route.

Councillor Jeane Lepper presented the petition of 1,710 signatures to the council this week on behalf of constituents in her Hollingdean and Stanmer ward who had collected them.

Coun Lepper said: "We need a proper park and ride system for this city and to close down the only one we have, albeit a small one, is just totally irresponsible."

The council said the Withdean park and ride service had been funded with contributions received as part of the planning permission for Churchill Square's redevelopment. That funding expired in April.

A council spokeswoman said it had negotiated with the bus company for the number 27 bus, which between Withdean and the city centre as part of its route, to run more frequently.

The park and ride buses used to run every 12 minutes and took 15 minutes non-stop. The number 27 will now run every 15 minutes, compared to every 30 minutes before April, and will take around 20 minutes between Withdean and the city centre.

The council spokeswoman said: "Drivers are still able leave their vehicles in the car park at Withdean and pick up the bus to the city centre."

The bus company said passengers could get discounts using saver tickets on the number 27, which they were not able to for park and ride buses.

However children, who travelled for free on the park and ride service, now have to pay fares of 90p.

The cut comes just months after the council's leadership spoke of its desire to have a network of small park and ride schemes to ferry people into the city.

Coun Lepper said: "This makes you question the real agenda of the administration."

The council said it had no plans to reintroduce the Withdean scheme.

It has previously investigated the possibility of building large park and ride car parks in the northern outskirts of the city to try to cut the traffic which gridlocks roads during summer.

Schemes at Braypool and Patcham Court Farm have been in the past decade after local opposition.