COUNCILLORS have demanded compensation for parents who they say spent hundreds of pounds on bus passes for their children, only to be told that a vital service had been suspended.

The X34 Arriva service, which transported dozens of students from colleges in Darlington to their homes in Catterick at 4.20pm each day, was subsidised by North Yorkshire County Council until it was controversially axed earlier this year.

The service was put back more than an hour, which parents - who had bought £500 season passes on the basis their children could catch the 4.20pm bus - said would force the youngsters to hang around in town after classes.

Following a campaign by residents, a “use-it-or-lose-it” 4.35pm service has been set up and will run on a temporary basis until Easter.

But some Liberal Democrat councillors say the move is too little, too late.

Coun Stuart Parsons said: “Mistakes happen from time to time, but when they do the council should hold its hands up and compensate those taxpayers who have been adversely affected.”

Coun Parsons said reductions in bus services caused overcrowding on the remaining services, and that some students have had to miss full buses and wait for an emptier one later in the day.

“If students are late for college, by no fault of their own, they do not qualify for the Educational Maintenance Allowance which helps with transport costs,” said Coun Parsons.

But Coun Carl Les, who represents Catterick Bridge on the county council, said Arriva had already offered compensation to parents who felt the new service was inadequate.

“The original bus passes are still valid on the new temporary service, even though it is being run by another contractor,” he said.

“I think the issue should not be about looking for compensation, but about trying to achieve a better service for the whole community.” Coun Parsons maintained it was the county counci's responsibility to compensate those affected by the changes.

He said: “Parents were mis-sold season passes via the council, and it is up to the council to put things right.”