SHIFTS of population to new housing estates mean many children have to make journeys to school that don't follow traditional public transport routes.

And for that reason alone, Blackburn with Darwen Council should think very carefully about taking action to save money which leads to the axing of school bus services.

In Blackburn and Darwen, a trip between home and school that might only be a mile or so in a direct line becomes three or four times as long if youngsters have to travel into town and out again on at least two different bus routes.

And as well as taking extra time, such commuting would put increased pressure on Blackburn's Boulevard bus station as crowds of children from different schools change routes.

It is true to say that the behaviour of some children on school buses hasn't endeared them to operators as ideal passengers.

But if behaviour is a problem, children will be far harder to police as they travel on a wide variety of routes instead of on specific school buses.

Fewer school buses will also inevitably mean more children being delivered by parents to buildings on narrow roads which were never designed to cope with dozens of cars pulling up and trying to turn round at the same time as scores of youngsters are trying to cross and other people are passing on their way to work.

All in all, such a move could prove shortsighted as a method of saving money.

The separate issue of helping sixth form students with travel costs raises different questions that are equally important.

If the principle of equal access to education is accepted, it seems unfair, for example, that A-level students living in Darwen will have to pay far more in fares than counterparts in Blackburn simply because their town has no sixth form college.

Education is a key to the future and not just for the individual students. If they are able to fulfil their potential, we will all benefit.