Disgruntled passengers objecting to proposals to cut the 428 bus service have started a petition against the plans.

The route, which runs from Erith to Bluewater shopping centre, will now be stopped at Crayford, according to plans.

This will also mean it will no longer serve the route to Darent Valley Hospital.

Since news of the cuts broke on blog From the Murky Depths, passengers who use the service have expressed concerns about accessing the hospital.

Now, a charity in Slade Green has decided to take a stand, and have created a petition to fight the proposed cuts.

Gaining more than 1,000 signatures in just a few days, the campaign from Howbury Friends calls on Arriva London to continue with the current bus route.

The petition says: Without this bus route it will put extra pressure on the ambulance service and will be detrimental to local people's health."

It continues to say that it takes around an hour to get from Darent Valley Hospital out to Bexley "on a good day," and a change to the route could "massively increase" transport times.

According to petitioners, the only other bus that serves the same route is the 96 service - which they argue is "overstretched" already, leading Crayford passengers to be rejected because the bus is already so full when it arrives.

Mel Hudson, who runs the charity, told News Shopper: "I don't drive, so it will be an issue for me, having four children, to get to Darent Valley Hospital."

The petition adds the decision "will make more residents isolated and will affect their health as people won't be able to attend appointments."

Ms Hudson said she is concerned the decision may affect people's health and welfare because they might have to travel on two or three buses instead. 

She added she was concerned people might be more inclined to call an ambulance in a non-emergency situation as a result of the longer journey, which would put pressure on the ambulance service.

Plans to cut this route are part of a wider scheme which is cutting bus routes across the London network.

The 428 proposal is the first of these cuts to affect services going out to Kent.

Transport for London's public transport service planning director Geoff Hobbs said the plans were designed to modernise the city's bus system.

He added: “We’re currently working closely with London’s boroughs on a potential set of proposals and they are helping shape our plans.

"These changes will also be subject to full public consultation before they’re put in place so we can hear from customers.”