Around 250 people have backed a petition that accuses planned changes to bus routes from later this month as being "totally unfair".

From April 17, Arriva is axing some of its services and revising others in the Watford area, which the bus company claims is in "direct response to reduced passenger demand".

But those who rely on Arriva's services have raised concerns about the changes and dozens have signed a petition.

One of the services being withdrawn is the 320 service that currently runs between Hemel Hempstead and Maple Cross via Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, Watford, Garston, Abbots Langley, Bedmond, and Leverstock Green.

The 520, which runs between Maple Cross and Watford town centre, via Croxley Green and Rickmansworth, is also being withdrawn.

To compensate for those losses, Arriva says the 321 service, which currently runs between Watford town centre and Luton, via North Watford, Garston, Chiswell Green, St Albans, and Harpenden, will be extended to cover Croxley Green, Rickmansworth and Maple Cross.

The petition says extending the 321 is one of the "worst steps" Arriva could have taken because it is already a "long" route disrupted by traffic delays, and says the loss of the 320 is "totally unfair" to those who rely on travelling between Hemel Hempstead and Watford and Three Rivers district.

The petition calls for the 320 and 321 services to stay as they are.

Related: Arriva is making huge changes to some of its bus services in the Watford area

A new 20 service, running between Watford and Hemel Hempstead to cover the loss of the 320, will take "longer" for passengers adding the 20 won't serve parts of North Watford and Garston that the 320 currently does.

Arriva is also revising the 8 service which the petition notes means a loss of connection between Abbots Langley and South Oxhey.

The petition also accuses Arriva of being "biased" towards the Holywell estate in Watford, with services for the estate increasing.

Accusing Arriva of "carving" up the routes and "shocking communication", the petition calls on the bus operator to effectively abandon some of its proposed changes.

An Arriva spokesperson said: "The petition is understandable, given the nature of service changes in the Hertfordshire region.

"We are having to implement these changes in order to ensure our network remains sustainable and is also reflective of customer travel demand against the challenging environment we are operating within (which includes a rising cost base)

"Arriva can commit to regularly reviewing the effectiveness of our service changes and will always offer enhancements if a genuine need is evident."

The petition can be found here and more about Arriva's changes can be found here.