OVERCROWDED buses are driving past groups of schoolchildren leaving them standing at bus stops.

Furious parents say it has led to their children being late or missing school.

Michelle Havinga's 13-year-old daughter, Stephanie, who attends Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Timberdine Avenue, Cherry Orchard, gets the S22 bus, run by First, at the Woodgreen Drive stop between Millwood Drive and Dugdale Drive.

Mrs Havinga, aged 41, of Cartwright Avenue, Warndon Villages, said: "The bus has been driving by without stopping. The children are having to go back home to get a lift from any parent who has not gone to work or they end up staying at home."

She said it has happened to her daughter twice, once last Friday and the second time on Monday.

Fortunately, Stephanie was able to get a lift into school on both occasions.

Mrs Havinga added: "The Government is saying it wants parents to leave the cars behind and for kids to take the buses but how can they take the bus if it does not stop?"

Sean Devlin, principal of Blessed Edward, he was not aware of any pupil missing school through being unable to travel.

He said: "The transport planning co-ordinator for the county council has told my transport officer that First has on order a double-decker bus.

"I'll be expecting that next week. That should solve the problem."

Dawid Maciejewski, from First, said it was looking a number of options including more buses on the route and double-decker buses.

He said: "Double-deckers may not be an immediate response. We have got some vehicles on order. We have not had confirmation of the delivery date.We are aware this is an issue.

"We are looking at the options available to solve this problem."