PARENTS’ anger over the route of a temporary school bus service has led to a u-turn.

Somerset County Council has changed the drop-off point of a service taking pupils from North Petherton to the Robert Blake Academy after protests from parents.

They reacted after being told their children would be dropped off directly on the A38 rather than at the school itself.

Some parents were only informed of the temporary arrangement – caused by roadworks in the area – days before term started.

The pupils, many of whom were 11-year-olds and new to the school, were forced to walk through a busy housing estate and the bus was frequently late, particularly when picking up the students up after school, due to the roadworks.

The parents were also baffled that a second school bus travelling from North Petherton to the Robert Blake Academy did drop the children directly at the school.

Now, pressure and petitioning has paid off, with parents receiving a letter informing them their children will now be dropped directly at the school.

A spokesman for the North Petherton Parents Group, said: “We are really pleased that at last someone at County Hall has listened. This was never an issue about our children having to walk to the school, it was about their safety.”

A spokesman for the council said: “We are providing free transport between North Petherton and Robert Blake as a temporary arrangement while a new cycleway and footpath is being constructed on the A38.

“The free transport was on a public bus route and the children were being dropped off at a bus stop on the A38 and walking a short distance (approximately 300m) to the school.

“We were concerned that because of traffic congestion along the A38 the children were arriving late at school. We have now contracted a dedicated school bus to leave earlier and drop the children outside of the school so they arrive on time.

"The new bus started last week and appears to be working well.”