SCORES of pupils excluded from a free transport scheme to the site of their new college are celebrating after a council reversed its decision.

The 83 youngsters living in two east Cleveland villages have been told they can now join the scheme when their school opens in January.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council officials caused a local outcry when it was discovered youngsters living in Skinningrove and Carlin How were not entitled to a free bus pass to Freebrough College, in Brotton.

The decision prompted an angry response from Labour councillor Brian Hogg, who demanded the council reconsidered its decision.

The council, which had previously agreed to provide free transport to children living more than three miles from the school, said it could only provide the 83 youngsters from the two villages with bus passes if there was no safe route for them to walk to school.

The villages are 2.2 miles and 1.4 miles from the school respectively, but Coun Hogg, who represents Brotton on the council, said the route the 11 to 16-year-olds would have to walk was unsafe - a view not shared by the council.

However, the council announced it had reassessed its decision.

Cabinet member for education, Councillor Steve Kay, said: "We are now in a position to inform parents that we can offer free home-to-school transport for more children going to Freebrough in January."

The decision follows a review of the walking route to school for children living in Carlin How and Skinningrove.

Coun Kay said: "I have had representations from Brotton ward councillors Val Miller and Kay Walker, and Loftus ward councillor Dave Fitzpatrick, who all asked for the walking route to be reviewed on safety grounds.

"Following our reassessment we can make home-to-school transport available to the children concerned. We are now in the process of writing to parents to explain the decision and hope that pupils can all look forward to the excitement of attending the new school in a few weeks."

Coun Hogg welcomed the decision. He said: "I am delighted there has been a rethink and that commonsense prevailed. The students are looking forward to going to the new school."