PARENTS slammed transport bosses after finding out that school bus fares have doubled.

Hundreds of children across East Lancashire returned to school on Monday and discovered the increased charges.

Lancashire County Council has removed subsidies on bus services and introduced flat rates of £1 for any route up to three miles, then £1.50 for three to seven miles and £2 per journey for more than seven miles.

In April we revealed that transport bosses were considering axing scores of bus routes, but in June they changed their minds and introduced the flat rates, which often equate to a doubling in the fare.

Parents across the area, unaware of the changes, have contacted us to register their anger.

Kirsty Sturgess, 35, of School Lane, Guide, is angry at the change. Her son Elliott, 12, attends Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School in Haworth Street, Oswaldtwistle. Last year he paid 50p per journey but now pays £1 - £10-a-week.

Mrs Sturgess, who runs Orios Flooring on Bolton Road, Ewood, said she would have to start dropping off and collecting Elliot, taking time out of her working day.

She said: "I can't let him walk to because it's too far. There are paedophiles out there, and there is no footpath along the road.

"They should subsidise the service so parents don't clog up the roads."

Victoria Jump, 40, of Tennyson Place, Great Harwood, said she lives more than a mile-and-a-half from Norden High School, Rishton, where her 12-year-old daughter Chelsea is a pupil.

"I am going to have to drive her to school in the morning, and she will have to walk back in the afternoons," said Mrs Jump.

"If she crosses the main road she could catch the Hyndburn circular bus for 50p but as quite a few children are doing the same there is no room.

"It is scandalous. It would cost about £380 a year just for my daughter to go to school."

County Coun Tony Martin, transport boss for the council, said increased oil costs meant it was more expensive to run buses.

He said: "If people stick with it I can pretty much guarantee them until 2009 at the current fares."

He warned that if pupils stopped using the services they could become unviable and end up being axed.