Darwen parents have slammed a decision to axe a school bus which takes their children to Bolton.

At least 50 pupils regularly used the service which picked up from stops in Darwen and took them to Canon Slade School.

But next term the service will no longer run and children will be forced to make their own way to Bolton.

Peter Morgan, director of children's services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The bus service was subsidised to provide for children entitled to a free bus pass. There are no remaining pass holders using the bus.

"We have discussed with bus operators the potential for provision of a direct bus service to Canon Slade as a commercial replacement but unfortunately this hasn't been possible. Alternative public transport is available." The council's policy is that if parents choose a school outside the borough which is not considered the nearest suitable school, pupils must make their own transport arrangements.

Mum-of-two Wendy Ritchie, 45, of Jack Keys Drive, said she was angry that the service had been removed without notification or consultation.

Wendy, a laboratory technician, said: "We just heard about this through another parent and we believe we should have been officially told what was happening.

"I have two daughters, aged 12 and 15, who have been using this bus since they started school.

"It stopped right outside our estate and there were stops all along the main road which was very convenient. My daughters will have to find another way of getting there which will probably mean having to get a bus to Darwen town centre, getting a bus to Bolton and then walking half a mile to school.

"Another bus company has offered to run a bus for us but instead of £1.30 it would cost £3 and may only be available to Christmas, depending on demand."

Fellow-parent Stephen Tipping, of Belgrave Road, who has a son at Canon Slade, said: "Apparently this has been planned for a while yet we, as parents of pupils using the service, were not informed.