FURIOUS parents in Chepstow are planning to mount a legal challenge after losing a campaign to save a school bus route.

Earlier this year, Monmouthshire county council axed a free bus service from Bulwark and Thornwell, which was used by around 400 children.

Despite a petition, protest march and appeal, the local authority is refusing to reinstate the buses. Parents are now gearing up for a judicial review and have started fundraising to help pay for it.

Christina Lowe, secretary of the Bulwark United for School Buses campaign group, said: "The action group and parents will now be looking at means of fundraising to cover the barrister's fees. This campaign is by no means over and ultimately everyone's goal is for safe choices on how to get to school."

The county council says children can walk to school as the formerly dangerous walking route is now safe thanks to £10,000 spent on lighting an underpass along the way.

All children living further than two miles from the school are still guaranteed free school transport.

Chepstow councillor Armand Watts said he would continue to back the parents.

"I'm disappointed with the outcome of the appeal," he said. "What worries me is children's safety, particularly during the darker months when children are more vulnerable.

"I will continue to back campaigners 100 per cent. I feel it is my duty to do everything I can as an elected member to support them."

Monmouth MP David Davies said the best solution would be a subsidised bus service.

"I would like to see another operator found who could offer a subsidised route," he said.

"It would be unfair on the rest of the county to go back to free school buses."

Peter Fox, Monmouthshire cabinet member for education, said: "We believe a proper and fair appeal process was conducted and the councillors made a unanimous decision."

He said the call for a judicial review was "premature" as the recommendations from the appeal had not yet been looked into.