PARENTS of pupils at Darlington schools have been given an extra week to express their views on proposals to cut school transport.

The consultation period has been extended by Darlington Borough Council after some of the 11,000 letters sent to parents in the town went to the wrong addresses.

The council used an external firm to mail the letters, which sought views on a plan to extend the distance children must live from school to be eligible for free school transport.

At present, pupils living two miles or more from their nearest or most appropriate secondary school can take advantage of free transport.

However, the council wants to extend the qualification limit to three miles in order to proivde more money to pay for school books and equipment.

A council spokeswoman said: "It's a very, very small percentage of the letters that have gone to the wrong place. Out of just under 11,000 letters, 200 have gone to the wrong place."

Parents were asked to give their views on the proposals to the council by Friday, July 13, but this has been extended to give them more time to respond.

"We are re-issuing the letters to the correct addresses and we have extended the closing date to Friday, July 20," the spokeswoman said.

The transport cuts have not been well received. A protest walk will beheld from Catholic primary schools in the town on July 18.

One parent, Eileen Clegg said: "They say it will mean an extra £40 per child per annum to be spent in the classroom, but I would rather give them the £40 and keep the transport from a safety point of view.