THE parents of a schoolboy have condemned a decision to refuse him a free bus pass because he has not been baptised.

Elliott Stewart's parents were delighted when he secured a place at a high-performing Catholic secondary school, to begin last week.

But excitement turned to despair when Elliott, 11, was denied free travel because he had not been baptised.

Durham County Council last night defended its decision, saying to qualify for a pass on religious grounds, Elliott, and at least one of his parents, must be a baptised Catholic.

His father, Stephen, is a Catholic, but he and Elliott's mother, Treena - an Anglican - did not have him baptised because they wanted him to choose his own religion.

Mrs Stewart said last night: "This is discrimination. I am not asking for the world. My child needs an education."

The row comes a week after 13 pupils from Heighington, County Durham, were told they would have to make their own way to Carmel RC College, in Darlington, because the school bus was full of Catholic students.

That decision was denounced by ward councillor Gerald Lee, who said the pupils were being discriminated against because of their faith.

Elliott, from Brasside, near Durham City, was granted a place at St Leonard's RC Comprehensive School, having finished St Godric's RC Primary School in July.

His parents chose the school because they wanted him to be with his friends.

Elliott is not eligible for a bus pass on locality grounds, because St Leonard's is not his nearest secondary school.

His parents are now paying his £6-a-week bus fare.

Mrs Stewart said: "If St Leonard's had said they were full and the places were going to Catholic children, I would have accepted that, but this had nothing to do with the school.

"The county council should be neutral. They couldn't say someone couldn't have a job because of their religion. Everyone should be free to be baptised or not. It's a human right.

"The council said 'Why don't you just get him baptised?'

"But I don't think that's right. It makes a mockery of baptism."

Councillor Clive Robson, deputy leader of Durham County Council, said the bus pass rules were not new and were drawn up in agreement with the relevant church authorities.

He said: "They are also spelled out clearly in written material sent to parents to help them exercise parental preference in the choice of school."

Mrs Stewart says she did not receive such a document.

Coun Robson added: "In recent years, similar complaints involving the council's arrangements for free travel to church schools have been referred to the Local Ombudsman, but have been found to be fair and reasonable.

"Exactly the same sort of criteria governs free travel to Anglican schools.

"The county council would not presume to advise parents on issues surrounding faith."

North-East Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall has taken up the issue and is seeking talks with the Schools Minister. She said: "Whether or not a child is baptised should be a matter for the parents, not the council."

Last month, Elliott was hailed a hero after unearthing a sawn-off shotgun in woods near the high-security Frankland Prison.

He is to be honoured for telling the police of the find.

Speaking about the decision to refuse him a bus pass, Elliott said: "It's a bit unfair because everyone I know has got a bus pass but I haven't just because I'm not a Catholic."

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