A spat has broken out between officials from Transport for London (TfL) and Sutton Council over controversial changes to a suburban bus route.

Plans to reroute the 463 between Maldon Road and Demesne Road have provoked protest from more than 500 residents who say they would be affected.

In August, TfL launched a public consultation with a statement that said Sutton Council supported the changes, although this reference was later removed at the council's request.

A Sutton Council spokesman said the "statement reflected historic and informal discussions with a previous ward councillor in 2013".

He added that "no formal request has been made for council approval for the scheme and no decision has been made by the council."

But Peter Bradley, head of consultation delivery at TfL, said: "The original wording on the bus route 463 consultation page on our website which stated that Sutton Council supported the proposal was approved by the council and then subsequently removed at the council’s request."

Councillors and council officers met with another TfL official on September 22 to discuss the consultation. A recording of the meeting was passed on to the Sutton Guardian.

At the meeting the official said: "I believe there was some communication with councillors.

"We thought we had that support from the council in terms of that political support. I think there could have been a bit of a breakdown in communication."

He added: "We won't be taking an unpopular decision locally if we don't have the council's and politicians' support."

TfL has faced criticism for failing to inform many affected residents about the proposal when the consultation was first launched One of those residents, Felicity Swanson, has helped gather more than 500 signatures protesting the changes.

She lives in Montagu Gardens, one of the roads on the proposed new route.

She said: "Everyone is asking, 'Why are they doing this? If you have got 100-odd buses coming down the road a day, it's a big change to your life.

"I spoke to bus drivers I know and they said it was ridiculous to bring buses down there. It's quite a difficult manoeuvre for a bus."