A HEADTEACHER concerned for the safety of students has persuaded a commercial bus company to reinstate a service used by 50 of her pupils.

When the bell rang at 3.05pm on Monday, January 15 to herald the end of the first day back at school for Studley High School pupils, many went to the bus stop to wait for the 67 Studley to Redditch bus, due a few minutes later.

But what the school and many parents and pupils did not know was that this bus had already been withdrawn from service by travel company First.

Headteacher Elaine Young said: "There were many pupils standing around when it was getting dark and raining waiting for a bus which simply wasn't going to turn up.

"As time went on, there were many worried parents waiting for their children. One pupil had enough of waiting and decided to walk home - he didn't get back until 6pm.

"The next bus was not until 4.30pm. I know this is a commercial businesss and it may have not been making huge amounts of money from pupils who use the bus but there's also a social issue here.

"I phoned First and questioned them. They said there had been leaflets on the bus about the change and a new timetable but would pupils have thought to have looked at these? And there was no consultation with the school.

"After a certain amount of pressure from myself, the company said it would reinstate the bus so we are absolutely delighted."

Nobody from First was available for comment.