HUNDREDS of children could be left without transport following moves to axe school buses in Exeter.

Cash-strapped Devon County Council plans to cut seven subsidised buses used to take children to and from schools in the city.

Two secondary schools and a primary will lose services under the cutbacks.

The council claims the dedicated routes for pupils not entitled to school transport are only provided for 'historic reasons' and are not a service it has to maintain. But parents, teachers and councillors say they are shocked at the plans.

From April 8 the council will stop the 970, 971, 972 and 976 services going to St Peter's, the 973 to West Exe Technology College and the 981 and 982 to St Nicholas School.

Parent Steve Grant, who lives in Cowick, has a child at St Peter's and another due to start in September. He said: "I think is it appalling. It is going to cause terrible problems for many who live on this side of the river.

"It will not be good for children to travel on public transport and have to change buses in High Street. Nor will regular travellers be too happy with suddenly finding four bus-loads of children travelling on their buses."

Exwick mum Mandy Heggadon, who has two children at St Peter's, said: "This would mean it will take them longer to get to school. It is too dangerous for them to cycle on the dark winter mornings.

"We want them to be able to go to St Peter's without having to worry about transport."

Mark Perry, headteacher at St Peter's Church of England Aided School, said: "It looks very concerning at the moment but I am urgently seeking a meeting with the county council to see if there are alternatives.

"I do have concerns that people in the middle of an academic year may have to amend travel plans significantly.

"They are changing a system that brings children safely on to the school site and then takes them home again. I appreciate that there have to be cuts, but I regret the timescale with changes due to start at the beginning of the summer term."

Angela Folland, acting headteacher at St Nicholas', said: "We have children aged three to 11 who travel from all over the city to our school to receive a Catholic education. Cutting this subsidy may well mean parents are less able to make this choice for their children and will mean more traffic on the roads. As part of our planning permission we had to meet stringent traffic reduction figures and have actively encouraged our children to use the school bus service.

"We are working with the Diocese to explore other options to enable our children to get to school safely while minimising the increase in traffic."

Rob Hannaford, county councillor for St Thomas and Exwick, said he would be challenging the decision at the Exeter Joint Highways Committee tomorrow.

He said: "At peak commuter times many of these bus routes are already standing-room only, so what on earth will happen? Many parents will simply drive their children across the city.

"Bizarrely the bus to St James will be kept because it's not funded from the same budget."

Laura Newton, city councillor for Exwick, said: "I am concerned about the safety of children who will end up walking long distances and also the impact on the roads and environment of more cars."

A spokeswoman for the county said: "Devon County Council is having to find £54.6m savings from April. These school buses are currently providing a service for children not entitled to transport provided by the county council.

"The majority of pupils not entitled to subsidised transport have to make their own way to school. But a minority who are not entitled have been provided with subsidised transport for largely historical reasons.

"We have approached the schools and offered them help in tendering and/or setting up contract management processes if they wish to continue these arrangements themselves."

The county was yesterday unable to give a precise figure on how much money the cuts would save, but it is expected to be in the thousands.