The 166 bus is under threat of being taken away, with Transport for London set to launch a consultation on its future in the coming weeks.

Transport for London has said it will launch a consultation on the route, which runs between West Croydon and Epsom Hospital, in the next couple of weeks.

Epsom and Ewell MP and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “There is absolutely no excuse for taking it away. It supports people inside the London boundary as well as outside it.

“I’ve been making representations to the Mayor of London and to TfL about this, making it clear that it must remain. And I’ve been talking to the county council to try to work together to put pressure on them not to remove the service.”

Surrey County Council said it is in talks with TfL to try to secure the future of the service, and hopes to keep it running as it is now.

Councillor Tina Mountain said: “We’re fully aware of how important it is to the residents – not just young people but old people doing their shopping in Epsom. We have children who wouldn’t be able to go to school.

“We have asked how much money we could put in to keep it running. We are hoping very, very much that once the consultation is through, and TfL realises how important it is to the area, they will let us contribute to keep it going.”

TfL declined to comment, but will release information about the consultation when it begins.