PLANS to withdraw three school buses were agreed last night.

Stockton Borough Council's cabinet committee accepted a proposal in an attempt to reduce transport costs that are running at £454,000 a year, £47,000 above budget.

The schools involved are Christ the King RC Primary, in Thornaby, St Joseph's RC Primary, in Norton, and Our Lady and St Bede's RC Comprehensive, in Stockton.

Other buses will continue to run to each of the three schools, but the least economical bus will be lost.

A proposal to reduce the early morning 549 and 586 bus services, operated by the Leven Valley company, was also agreed at the meeting, in Stockton Central Library.

The schools were first consulted in 2002 and the plans have been opposed by at least one headteacher.

However, it has emerged that Christ the King primary school may be able to keep its extra bus by running the service jointly with St Patrick's, in Fairfield, Stockton.

Leader of the opposition Conservatives, Councillor Stephen Smailes, spoke out against the proposal.

He said: "This is a safety issue for our children and each of us should consult our consciences and ask ourselves if we are failing to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society by doing this."

Councillor Suzanne Fletcher, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the schools were consulted as far back as 2002 and asked if many parents were aware of the plan.

Bob Gibson, leader of the council, said that dwindling numbers of pupils using the buses had led to large subsidies for each individual passenger.

He said: "We are reducing the number of buses, not completely stopping them altogether. It is a tight budget for transport of just under £500,000 a year and when we pay tens of thousands per year for individual passengers we have to look at that.

"Looking to the future, we hope to be able to take advantage of Government plans to implement American-style yellow school bus schemes."

None of the bus services will be withdrawn until the next academic year.