HUNDREDS of youngsters in County Durham could lose their free bus travel to and from school.

Durham County Council is considering charging the parents of about 480 children who fill surplus places on free school transport.

The proposed £1 daily charge for pupils up to 16 who get concessionary travel would cost parents up to £190 a year.

The move could give the council more than £90,000 a year in extra income.

Charging pupils who would not ordinarily get free travel was recommended in an external review of the council's transport policy under the Government's Best Value policy.

The move would not affect about 20,000 pupils who are eligible for free transport, or those who get it because their walk to school is deemed hazardous.

But the Labour-run council is reviewing 17 routes across the county to see if that concession should continue.

The cabinet has agreed to consultation before a final decision is taken.

Councillors were told that Durham was out of step with other councils in not charging for concessionary seats on school contract buses.

Education director Keith Mitchell said: "In recent years, more and more local education authorities have been making a charge for concessionary travel as pressure on their education transport budget has increased.

"Here in County Durham, for instance, our spending on school transport has risen from £6m in 1997 to £10m today - and five years ago, unlike today, that figure included pupils in Darlington."

Concessionary seats are offered at the council's discretion, but can be withdrawn if places are required by pupils who meet the free travel eligibility criteria, or if a smaller bus can be introduced.

Mr Mitchell said students in post-16 education would have to pay £1.50 per day, or about £285 a year for concessionary travel.

The charges will be introduced in September next year, if approval is given.

Proposals to withdraw free travel from pupils at Blackfyne School, Consett, who face a hazardous journey from Leadgate, was called in by the council's scrutiny committee, earlier this year.

It suggested changes to the review procedure and has asked the cabinet to look again at the decision