COMMUTERS have been left waiting outside in the cold after buses failed to stop on an unlit High Wycombe road.

Bucks Free Press reader Mike Hall contacted the paper after he was forced to use a torch to catch the driver's attention on the 300 route. The route follows the A4128 at Hughenden.

In response the paper sent a reporter to investigate, who twice failed to flag down a passing bus.

Mr Hall, 52, of Nicholas Gardens, High Wycombe, said: "There have been a number of occasions when I have been waiting at the bus stop after dark and the bus had driven straight past me.

"Drivers have said that if it hadn't been for the torch, they would never have seen me and would have driven straight past without stopping."

Bucks Free Press reporter Tom Pochciol stood in a visible spot at the Hughenden Park bus stop on Wednesday night and was surprised when buses passed him at 7.08 and 7.21pm without stopping.

The stretch of road has been targeted by Bucks County Council to take part in a scheme in which street lights are switched off to save energy.

Kevin Allen, lighting engineer for Jacobs, who perform work for the council, said: "Following further consideration the county council has decided not to provide lighting at this bus stop."

But Val Letheren, Bucks County Council's cabinet member for transportation, said she would investigate: "I will look into what can be done to make that bus stop more visible.

"I don't want to discourage anybody from catching a bus."