A voluntary group seeking to rebuild the railway linking Oxford, Eynsham, Witney, and Carterton has announced Witney's MP as its patron.

Witney Oxford Transport Group has named Charlie Maynard, a former chair of the group, as its patron.

Mr Maynard has been championing the planned rail route that would join the Cotswold Line north of Worton and west of Yarnton, crossing over Lower Road just north of the A40.

He took a step back from the group when he became executive member for planning and sustainable development.

Mr Maynard said: "Now that I am no longer holding the portfolio, I am delighted to be taking up this role with Witney Oxford Transport Group which provides a focus on the A40 corridor from Oxford all the way through West Oxfordshire.

"As laid out to the group, my interest and determination on this project is serious.

"I can’t guarantee that I can pull this off, but we will maximise the probability of making it happen by all working together on it."

Traffic jams on the A40 are worsening, says the group, with journey times set to increase by 30 minutes over the coming years.

The proposed train would take 22 minutes, compared to the current journey of more than an hour by bus.

Oxfordshire County Council also commissioned a feasibility study on the economic and strategic cases for the railway, which was completed this year.