No school buses for 1,000 pupils

There will be no buses for more than 1,000 Essex schoolchildren on Monday.

The company which carries pupils to and from 10 of the county's schools is ceasing operating on Friday after running into financial difficulties.

The schools affected by the financial collapse of Phoenix Student Travel, in Witham, are in Southend, Colchester, Westcliff and Chelmsford.

The pupils have been told to find alternative ways of getting to and from classes next week.

One of the worst hit is the Anglo-European School in Ingatestone, where 300 children are affected.

The schools affected are: Southend High School for Girls Southend High School for Boys King Edward 6th Grammar School, Chelmsford Chelmsford County High for Girls St John Payne Chelmsford Westcliff High School for Girls Westcliff High School for Boys Colchester Royal Grammar School Colchester County High School for Girls Anglo European School at Ingatestone

A spokesman for Essex County Council said it did not have any responsibility for getting the children to school.

In this case the bus service is provided for children who are not entitled to free transport.

The council is already involved in a wrangle over school bus fares.

Pupils and parents have been protesting over plans to charge £300 a year in fares for children at denominational schools to save money.

The insolvency firm called in to Phoenix Student Travel said it was examining all the options to allow the service to continue in the future.

But a spokesman for McTear Williams and Wood said parents should make alternative arrangements for getting their children to school on Monday.