School bus service problems resolved

Problems with the provision of a bus service for schoolchildren - which looked uncertain at the start of the week - have now been resolved.

Thousands of Essex pupils faced making their own way in following the collapse of the Witham-based, Phoenix Student Travel.

Replacement services have now been organised.

The schools affected were: 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

However, David Wood from East Anglian-based insolvency and business rescue specialists, McTear, Williams and Wood, said refunds for parents who paid Phoenix in advance are not certain.

Phoenix Student Travel, which carries pupils to and from 10 of the county's schools, ceased operating on Friday after running into financial difficulties.

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