IF Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council goes ahead with the proposed plans to axe free bus fares for children who attend faith schools, it will be guilty of discrimination on two counts.

To discriminate on grounds of religion is illegal and to discriminate against the children of Darwen is scandalous.

Why penalise children from Darwen who must travel into Blackburn if they wish to attend a faith school?

Is it their parents' fault that the nearest such schools are St Bede's, Our Lady & St John and St Wilfrid's?

Secondly, Darreners have suffered months of traffic chaos while a new road system is being put in place =- the excuse being that it was needed to cut the high density of carbon emissions in the main road area. Hah!

Take away the free bus passes and what will happen? More cars will be used by those parents who wish to exercise their right to have their children educated in the faith they observe.

So much for Blackburn with Darwen being an energy-conscious council.

Shame on councillors if you vote this measure through. I hope parents take the council to court for discrimination.

E EASTHAM (via email).