PARENTS have said they fear for their children's safety after they were told to walk to school along unlit paths, a field and a road with 'limited visibility' for pedestrians.

Oxfordshire County Council has told 16 families in Wootton that their free school bus provision will be withdrawn from January because a safe walking route to The Marlborough CE School in Woodstock has been found.

But some parents claimed the assessment of the 2.9 mile route is flawed.

Sophie Curtis, whose son Elliot, 14, will have to walk the route, said: "You need to see it to believe it, it is ridiculous.

"The county council is suggesting the children should be taken across fields and bridleways, which are unlit.

"It makes us worried about our children's safety, there is a big safeguarding issue.

"If this is the case I will not be able to continue to work because I will have to ferry my children to school by car."

A letter from county council director for children's services, Jim Leivers, to parents, states that it was previously understood there was no safe walking route between Wootton and the school.

This meant the council was obliged to provide free home-to-school transport.

But Mr Leivers said an officer from the council's road safety engineering team assessed the route in the summer and found it to be safe, meaning the council no longer had a statutory obligation to fund free transport.

However the officer's assessment states that in part of the route – in Stratford Lane – "visibility available to pedestrians of approaching traffic when crossing in either direction is limited".

Parents can pay for the school bus but will not be able to provide it for free.

The report also notes no street lighting is provided within Wootton, on the bridleway or on part of the footpath.

Ms Curtis, 34, said she was worried children would not make it home in time before it was dark.

She said: "Two children did it and it took them an hour and 17 minutes, and they ran the last part.

"If the weather is bad it will be dark before 4.30pm, which is when the council says the route can be walked by."

The county council is legally obliged to provide free home-to-school transport if no safe walking route of three miles or less exists for children aged eight and above.

West Oxfordshire district councillor for Wootton Richard Bishop said: "It is all very well telling adults to pay attention when crossing roads but we are talking about children."

Parents will have the opportunity to appeal against the decision.

County council spokesman Owen Morton said: "Using this guidance, a route between Wootton and Marlborough School has been found to be safe to walk."

A bus service will continue for a small number of children in Wootton who live more than three miles from The Marlborough CE School.