CHILDREN were behaving so badly on their way home from school that the driver refused to go on without a police escort.

The 826 bus from St Bede's RC Comprehensive School to Elm Park, in Shotley Bridge, near Consett, County Durham, was stopped after students persistently opened the upstairs emergency exit.

Fearing an accident, the driver stopped and radioed his control room to ask for a police escort to get the children, some as young as 11, safely home.

After hearing officers were en-route, some youngsters - thought to be those responsible, along with some who were not - got off the bus.

Go North-East, which opperates the service, received three complaints from parents because their pre-teen boys and girls made the three-mile walk home.

The bus, which carries other passenger as well as schoolchildren, continued its journey after the incident, at about 3.15pm on Wednesday.

Andy Burns, of Go North-East, said safety of all passengers was paramount.

He said: "The children were opening the back window and the alarm was going off to alert the driver.

"He the driver asked them to stop on a number of occasions. He stopped and said he was calling the police. Several of the children got off of their own accord and began walking."

The driver cancelled his request for police assistance when he learnt the troublemakers had left the bus.

An investigation is under way at the local education authority based at Durham County Council. The company will be showing CCTV footage to the school.

St Bede's RC Comprehensive School refused to comment.