PUPILS from a village near Witney staged a protest walk against having to pay for a bus service to their school.

The service between Hailey and Wood Green School has previously been free for pupils.

However, Oxfordshire County Council said it would now charge £300 annually from September.

This was because it said there was a safe walking alternative between Hailey and Witney.

But school pupils from Wood Green School and members of Year 6 in Hailey Primary School who live in the village claimed the route was still dangerous.

Mary Collingridge, a pupil who helped organise yesterday's walk, said: “We would have to cross two blind corners and go behind the rugby club which is covered from view.

“Many people in Hailey are uncomfortable about thisso we decided to do a protest walk.”

The council provides free transport for secondary school children who live more than three miles away from their nearest school, or where there is no identified safe walking route.

Spokesman Owen Morton said a new metre-wide tarmac footpath, which runs alongside the B4022 Hailey Road, had made the route safe.

It links existing pavements between Hailey and Witney, he said, and “ensured a continuous walking route between the two locations”.

The footpath was paid for by Hailey Parish Council using an £8,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund and £4,000 of its own budget, as well as some cash from the Hailey Relief in Need Charity Trust.

Mr Morton added: “Following the completion of the new footpath, the walking route between Hailey and Witney was reassessed using road safety guidance, and found to be a safe route according to that national guidance.

“Since the route is within statutory walking distance, there is no longer any basis for the council to offer free school transport. Families have been informed of their right to appeal.”