Rock star in child bus fare offer

Chris de Burgh has stepped into the row about the youngster's bus fare

Millionaire singer Chris de Burgh has stepped in to help a schoolgirl whose family are involved in a dispute with a council over her bus fares.

The Irish musician has offered to help pay for eight-year-old Heidi Pennells to get the bus to her primary school.

Her parents were unhappy that Aberdeenshire Council said Heidi did not qualify for free transport.

The family, who moved from Nottingham to Aberdeenshire last month, said they were unable to afford the weekly fare.

The Pennells have been told that they are not eligible for a free bus service because they live inside a two-mile exclusion zone.

Earlier this week, they claimed the council had suggested to them that Heidi hitch a lift to school from parents or teachers.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said that there was "certainly no suggestion that the pupil hitch-hike her way to school and we would not condone any such action".

I am happy to help out financially but I also hope my involvement will make the council think again Chris de Burgh

Tony Pennells, 42, said they had been "speechless" when they received a call from Mr de Burgh this week.

He explained: "My wife took the call and Mr de Burgh very kindly offered to put money towards the fares.

"They had a very nice conversation - he is a lovely fellow and he said he would not want his kids having to go through what Heidi is experiencing.

"It is almost unbelievable - you hear about these big stars with money but never think they would want to help normal people.

"We were just speechless."

'Simple to fix'

Michelle Pennells added: "I think it is absolutely fantastic.

"If the council were doing their job properly he would not have to do this.

"At the end of the day it was just one parent talking to another parent."

Mr de Burgh, famous for the hit song Lady in Red, said: "This seems like such a simple thing to fix and asking a little girl to hitch-hike seems so ridiculous.

The council has said Heidi is not eligible for free transport

"You can't ask a little girl to hitch-hike, even if it's with someone she knows.

"For me, it says something of the small-mindedness of councils not looking at the bigger picture.

"For one thing, I am happy to help out financially but I also hope my involvement will make the council think again."

The Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said that during the course of a conversation between a council education officer and the parent, a number of alternatives to bus transport were discussed.

He added: "These included a suggestion that an arrangement could perhaps be made with a friend or neighbour with children at the same school and it appears this may have been misconstrued.

"We are currently investigating the parent's query relating to the exact distance from her home to the school and will be discussing it further with her."