Shoppers at Wisbech bus station flocked to sign a petition calling for the 46 bus service to be kept as a through route from March to Kings Lynn.

In just two hours more than 350 people signed the petition organised by Wisbech Labour Party branch.

Around 500 people have signed in just one week, organisers said.

The petition joins one by a 78 year old Chatteris grandmother, also campaigning to keep the route open amid talks it could be scrapped despite operators Lynx, Sanders Coaches and West Norfolk Community Transport steppinig in to take over routes and services previously run by Stagecoach.

Kathy Dougal, petition organiser and secretary of the Wisbech branch of the Labour Party, said: “This bus provides an important through service between the villages and to Kings Lynn.

“It is vital for people going to work, schools and hospital.

“As well as support for keeping the route open, many also welcomed the idea of extending the route to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“We will continue to fight for this to be a through route and extended to the hospital in Lynn even if the councils ignore the local strength of feeling”.

The petition asks the two councils to work together to ensure another provider is found to operate the complete route should Stagecoach fail to reconsider their operation of the 46 route.

Grandmother Ann McGuire, has set up an online petition and plans to get paper copies in local shops and on the buses.

Mrs McGuire, who has lived in the Fens for nine years, explained: “There must be about 200 school children who use it and lots of elderly people who need to get to hospital appointments and the shops.

“It connects people to other areas to travel to get more buses and trains. I use it to visit family and friends and go to the hospital.”

Stagecoach confirmed their last day of operation will be April 28, but services will run as normal in the interim.

• The online Labour Party petition ‘Save the 46 Bus Route ’is also available to sign at council and committee meetings and on Cambridgeshire County Council ePetitions home page. The petition is open until April 28.

• Petition forms are also at the Post Office and chip shop in Wisbech St Mary, Oasis Community Centre among other locations.