YOUNGSTERS in one of the region's most isolated rural areas are facing extreme difficulties getting to school because of continuing railway chaos.

About 200 pupils who live on the North York Moors depend on Northern Spirit's Esk Valley line, which connects Middlesbrough to Whitby, to get to Eskdale and Caedmon Schools and Whitby Community College.

But the line has speed restrictions of 20mph, imposed because of flooding in the valley area.

So for the past week pupils - many of whom leave their isolated homes as early as 7am - are arriving about half-an-hour late for school.

Rob Plackett, from Eskdale School, said the train was the most reliable way of getting the children to lessons.

He said some children who live in the remote Fryupdale and Westerdale area leave home as early as 7am and are taken by taxi for seven or eight miles to the nearest village station, which has very little shelter, to wait for the train to Whitby.

Then, when they arrive at the seaside town, they have to get a special bus which takes them to school, with problems repeated in reverse for the journey home.

Mr Plackett said the situation is having a knock-on effect in the town because contract buses are running late for other jobs and school trips and activities are delayed.

He said: "The children are having to put up with a great deal at the moment, but they have shown a huge amount of resilience.

"Some of the children are getting upset by it and the parents are getting angry."

A Railtrack spokesman said trains were leaving Middlesbrough earlier to make up time.

He said that a walk of the entire stretch would take place in the next couple of days to check the latest position.