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Campaigners against changes to home-to-school transport in North Yorkshire, which now limits how many children qualify for free bus travel, say they're determined to persuade the council to return to the previous system.

North Yorkshire Council says it is one of the highest spending local authorities in the country on home-to-school transport - at 拢51 million a year - and if it had done nothing, it could have a crippling effect on other services they must deliver by law.

Under the changes, the council will only provide free buses to and from a child's nearest school, rather than using the traditional catchment area system.

Claudia Robinson went to meet Oscar, a 15-year-old student at Richmond School and Brenda Price, a governor at a primary school in the Dales, to find out more about the impact the new rules will have.

North Yorkshire Council say:

We understand parents' concerns, but with severe budget pressures and a 拢14 million Government funding cut, tough choices are necessary. We can only fund transport to the nearest school, ensuring we manage escalating costs while retaining support for the families and pupils who need it most.

This new policy creates a fairer system for parents and children and brings us in line with many other councils. Unfortunately, a more generous offer is no longer an option.

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