ALMOST 200 children in Blackburn with Darwen are set to struggle to get to school after Easter when their special bus service is axed.

The 171 pupils from all over the borough attend Walton-le-Dale High in Bamber Bridge.

Now Oswaldtwistle-based Moving People have terminated its decade-long contract to supply the bus service to take children from Blackburn and Darwen to the Lancashire County Council 11 to 16 secondary school because of rising costs.

And headteacher James Harris is struggling to find an alternative parents can afford.

Unless the service is reinstated, the children face a difficult journey to school using several buses and possibly the train unless their parents drive them to class.

Now Livesey Parish councillor and Blackburn Conservative Association deputy chairman Rick Moore is seeking a solution.

Parents have also contacted the Lancashire Telegraph on Facebook over the issue which mirrors a similar problem affecting 30 children from Darwen and the surrounding villages who attend Canon Slade School in Bolton.

Mr Moore plans to ask a question on the issue at Blackburn with Darwen borough's Council Forum meeting on Thursday.

He said: "This is not about politics. This is about getting children - some of whom are preparing for exams - to school.

"For reasons of safeguarding and road safety the public transport alternatives are insufficient.

"I am asking the council to make a short-term financial contribution to keep the school bus service going."

One parent told the Lancashire Telegraph: "I don't want my 12-year-old getting trains or two buses alone to another town. It isn't safe."

Glen Chamberlain, director of Moving People, said: "The recent and unprecedented change in the economic climate have affected the financial viability of the service in its existing form.

"In December 2022 we served notice to terminate and then re-tendered. We are still awaiting a decision."

Mr Harris said: "Moving People terminated their contract early. We subsidise the service with £40,000 a year but on retendering the school is being asked for £250,000 which we do not have.

"We are doing all we can to resolve this including asking Transdev to reroute a regular service from Blackburn via the school."

Blackburn with Darwen Council education boss Cllr Julie Gunn said: “We fully appreciate that the withdrawal will be very upsetting for parents.

“This school bus service is a private arrangement between parents and school operated by a private bus company. We have no duty to provide home to school transport for the pupils travelling to Walton-le-Dale."