COMMUTERS lobbying for the extension of a key bus route say the scheme would help ease their transport misery during the closure of Wanstead tube station.

The Central Line stop will be shut down for refurbishment work on Monday and is due to remain closed for ten weeks, forcing thousands of passengers to look for alternative routes into London.

"Campaigners have battled for more than a year to get the 330 bus route - which runs from Forest Gate to Canning town and is shortly to be extended to Canary Wharf- extended the other way as well to Wanstead High Street, and say the closure of the station has made this move even more vital."

The group has already gathered more than 250 signatures on a petition calling for the extension - which they plan to present to Transport for London (TfL) next month.

Campaigner Alex Phillips, who works for the Financial Service Authority in Canary Wharf, said the extension would give commuters a vital alternative to using the Tube.

He said: "It would be good for a number of reasons, such as if the tube was shut or they go on strike and because it gives people on low incomes an alternative to the tube which can be quite expensive.

"When it's been shut before I've had to get a mini cab which isn't too bad for me because I'm on okay money, but for a lot of people a £15 cab fare just isn't an option.

"It gives people another alternative, both for local routes and accessing other transport hubs connecting to Central London, and I haven't come across anyone who thinks it's a bad idea."

Conservative parliamentary candidate for Leyton and Wanstead, Ed Northover, added: "The Wanstead Tube Summer Shutdown has exposed the poor transport alternatives available to local residents.

"The recent tube strike has reinforced the urgent need for local alternative routes.

"This is a cost effective way to improve local transport facilities and make a real difference to local residents.

"I urge local residents to support our campaign to extend the 330 Bus Route to Wanstead High Street"

You can sign the petition online at: tinyurl.com/facebook330busroute.