Defective coaches taken off road

Police have ordered four school coaches off the road as part of a two-week road safety crack down.

In the first two weeks of March, Avon and Somerset's road policing unit carried out checks on school buses and taxis which carry children to school.

Of the 62 vehicles stopped, experts took four coaches off the road citing defects which required immediate attention.

Police say the items included locked emergency exits and defective lights.

Seat belt problems

Among the other faults found, three vehicles had safety issues relating to seat belts and two had problems with their tyres.

A number of less serious problems were also identified to drivers and operators.

The number of defective vehicles found was an increase on last year.

A police spokesman said they were generally pleased with the overall standard of vehicles carrying children to school but disappointed they were still finding emergency exits locked.

The checks took place in Bath, Keynsham, Frome, Glastonbury, Wellington, Winterbourne and Crewkerne.