THE parents of a GCSE student say they are appalled that their son must walk along a dark country road to get a bus to and from school.

Christopher Land, of Linburn Drive, Bishop Auckland, has to get to a bus stand two miles from his home each morning, despite the bus travelling within five minutes walk of his home.

The 16-year-old Staindrop Comprehensive School pupil has received a concessionary travel pass since he started the school and had been able to board the bus in Etherley Dene.

But now Durham County Council says he must use a pick-up point in Low Etherley, meaning a 30-minute walk each way or his parents must pay for a taxi.

The change to his arrangements was made after bus operator Go Northern reported problems with other pupils wanting to board the bus without passes.

Mother Linda Land said: "We appreciate that Christopher is lucky to get concessionary travel, but to make him walk along that road each day or for us to pay for a taxi when the bus uses the same route is ludicrous.

"I cannot see why bus drivers, and teachers on the return journey, cannot prevent pupils without passes boarding the bus and allow Christopher to continue as before in a very important year at school."

A spokesman for Durham County Council said: "The decision followed discussions between ourselves and the bus operator, and while it is unfortunate that one person has been inconvenienced by the behaviour of others, there are currently no plans to return to the previous situation."