PARENTS across Blackburn and Darwen are rallying in a bid to prevent council bosses from axing their children's school buses.

The council plans to chop the subsidy for 17 services which take youngsters less than three miles to school -- the distance at which the council is obliged to provide transport.

And a further 28 will be redesignated for passholders only, meaning that parents and other people who may use the service to get to work or nearby schools will have to find alternatives.

Schools have been given advance notice of the services which the council will abandon in a bid to save money. The schools could keep the service on, but would have to pay for it themselves or pass the cost on to parents.

Alternatively, the bus companies could decide the services are financially viable to operate without subsidy, although this is believed to be unlikely given that they were subsidised in the first place.

Whalley Range residents fear the decision to axe the area's daily service to and from Roe Lee Primary School will place youngsters at risk. They will either have to catch two buses -- one into Blackburn town centre and then one to the school, or walk.

Habib Adam, of Blackburn Street, has handed a petition to the council opposing the move. Several hundred people have signed.

He said: "The idea seems to be to penalise the parents who aren't sending their children to schools around the corner. Blackburn is a town which prides itself on all groups getting on together. How can that continue if parents feel the only school they can send their children to is the nearest one?

"Racial harmony should be more important than cost-cutting. Many parents wouldn't be able to afford the £7.50 a week to keep the service going."

Andrea Madden, of Sandhill Street, Darwen, said: "I will be unable to get my sons safely to Turton High School. This change in policy will place the children affected at risk.

"If this policy change has been implemented as a cost saving exercise, then it is outrageous."

Helen McNicholas, whose son Anthony is in year 7 at St Bede's RC High School, Livesey Branch Road, said: "It has given us virtually no time to lodge a protest."

Coun Mafooz Hussain, in charge of education at the council, said: "There is no withdrawal of support for pupils who are entitled to bus passes and we will continue to provide transport, if appropriate, for children with special educational needs."

Campaigners plan to lobby the council's executive board at the Old Town Hall, King William Street at 6pm on Thursday.

Schools which will lose services

TOTAL LOSS:

Moorland HS: From Shadsworth via Eccleshill and from Montague Street, Blackburn

Feniscowles PS: From London Road, Blackburn

Roe Lee PS: From Bold Street, Blackburn

Darwen Vale HS: From Cherry Tree, Higher Croft and from Feniscowles

Longshaw PS: From Whalley Range

St Peter's PS: From Feniscowles

Lammack CPS: From Randall St

Pleckgate HS: From Blackburn and from Litte Harwood St Luke and St Philips PS: From Bastwell St Francis PS: From Larkhill and Brookhouse Meadowhead PS: From Quarry Street services to be restricted to passholders only

St Bede's RC HS: from Bold Venture Park, from Roe Lee, from Darwen Cemetery, from Wilpshire Bull's Head, from Waterside, from Darwen Spring Vale, and from Darwen Circus,

Darwen Vale HS: From Tockholes

St Augustines HS: From Witton Park

Canon Slade CE HS: From Lower Darwen and Bull Hill, and Belmont

Our Lady and St John's RC: From Roe Lee, Wilpshire

Edgworth PS: From Grane Gray Mare and Hoddlesden Pole Lane

Accrington schools: From Blackburn Boulevard

Turton High School: From Watery Lane and Hoddlesden, from Watery Lane, from Edgworth, from Feniscowles.

St Wilfrid's CE HS: From Eccleshill, from Bold Venture Park, from Belmont via Tockholes (also for St Bede's Pupils)and from Darwen Cemetery

St Paul's, Hoddlesden: From Darwen Bus Station

St John's Hoddlesden, from Entwistle Strawberry Duck

St Paul's Edgworth: From Pickup Bank