Grandfather unhappy at bus plea

Erin Beaty spent many weeks in hospital recovering

An Aberdeenshire grandfather has expressed disappointment after pleading to the Scottish Parliament for improvements to school bus safety.

Ron Beaty, whose eight-year-old granddaughter Erin was hit by a car after she got off a bus, addressed MSPs on the education committee.

He said he felt it was a "negative" meeting.

Erin was left with a severe brain injury and is in a wheelchair after the incident in Gardenstown two years ago.

Bairns cannot keep being killed and injured, something has to be done Ron Beaty Erin's grandfather

Mr Beaty has called for a law which would ban cars from driving past stopped school buses.

He said that children all over the country could avoid being hurt if stopped buses could not be overtaken and new warning lights were installed.

Mr Beaty has also called for mandatory seat belts on school buses and dedicated school transport.

After the meeting, he told the BBC Scotland news website: "It was a very negative meeting, to me personally, there was very little feedback or questioning.

"Their main concern seemed to be that there is a lot of legislation. I felt they were trying to get out of things.

"What happens now is they have another meeting and decide on things then.

"If they cannot help I will have to try and do it through Westminster.

"Bairns cannot keep being killed and injured, something has to be done."