SCHOOLchildren are turning up late for lessons because their school bus is breaking down before it even picks them up.

The S3 service from Warndon to Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College and the S4 route from Warndon Villages to the school have been plagued with problems.

Doug Shipsey, aged 42, of Cover Green, Warndon Villages, Worcester, has two children, Bethany, 12, and Thomas, 15, who use the bus.

He said: "Buses have turned up late or not at all. Two weeks ago the bus broke down in the bus stop lay-by and the pupils ended up having to make their way to school.

"On Monday morning the pupils were picked up 35 minutes late and had to stand and wait in -4C (25F).

"At times the pupils have been so late that they are going into their second lesson. It has started to affect their education."

The service - which takes more than 100 children to school every day - is provided by First, which has a contract with the county council.

The school, bus company and council all say the service has improved since last year, but admit it is still not good enough.

Councillor Derek Prodger, cabinet member for the environment, said: "I am not happy that these problems persist, and I understand my officers are constantly reminding First of their contractual obligations.

"It is not good when schoolchildren - or any other travelling customer - arrive late and while we all have to accept that there will always be an element of unpredictability with transport, parents are coming to the end of their tethers."

First's contract to provide school buses in 2006/2007 was axed due to lateness and vehicle breakdowns.

It was later re-awarded the two routes in question, although the two-year contract from September 2007 came with conditions, including replacing buses older than 10 years by September 2008 and starting the buses up half an hour earlier to check they were working.

Stuart Render, spokesman for First, said: "The vast majority of the time it works very well, but when something does go wrong we would like to apologise.

"We are working towards replacing the buses, and are trying to improve the age of the buses and the fleet.

"We cannot start buses up and leave them running - a bus running without anybody with it is a risk.

"We have made it clear to the county council school buses are our priority. We will find buses if this means we are to take one off normal services."

Blessed Edward headteacher Sean Devlin said the service had improved since last year and there were not problems every day.