POLICE have issued a warning to bus companies taking children to school after a major operation revealed serious faults on vehicles.

Operation Coachman was carried out at schools across North Yorkshire during the past month - and produced several alarming findings to concern parents.

Checks were made on 69 buses at eight schools throughout the eastern side of North Yorkshire, taking in the districts of Hambleton, Scarborough and Ryedale.

Six vehicles were immediately ordered off the road to allow repairs to be carried out on brakes, tyres, air leaks, insecure doors and seats.

A further 13 vehicles were issued with delayed prohibition notices for less serious defects which require repairs within a short space of time.

Faults identified included fuel and oil leaks, as well as problems with emergency stop buttons and suspension.

Across the whole county, a total of 110 vehicles were examined and eight taken off the road straight away. Twenty-four vehicles were issued with warnings.

However, the figures did compare favourably with a similar operation last year which saw 65 vehicles examined, nine ordered off the road and another nine receiving delayed prohibition notices.

The latest multi-agency operation involved investigators from the police, the Vehicle Inspectorate, Benefits Agency and North Yorkshire County Council.

Officers who took part in the operation said they were pleased to see some rise in standards - but warned that improvements still had to be made.

Sergeant Chris Charlton, of North Yorkshire Police eastern road policing group, said: "It is encouraging to see that school bus operators in general are improving their standards. However, there is still a considerable way to go and room for many improvements."

The North Yorkshire operation, carried out between March 26 and April 6, was part of a national campaign to examine standards in school transport.

* The Northern Echo launch-ed its School Seatbelt Scandal campaign last year to tighten the legal loophole which allows children to travel on buses without wearing belts

Read more about The School Seatbelt Scandalhere.