PARENTS have been shocked to learn of school bus changes that mean youngsters are now travelling an extra hour each day.

As children went back to school yesterday, youngsters in Bicester faced longer journeys with parents claiming not enough notice was given before the new term began.

Five bus routes from Bicester to Blessed George Napier Catholic School in Banbury have been cut to four after a new contract was agreed by Oxfordshire County Council.

Parents fear the change could affect their children’s studies and extra curricular activities.

Andrea Craig, of Langford Village, pays for her son Jordan, 15, to use the bus service – contracted to bus firm Grayline.

She said: “The children used to get picked up at 7.45am and were in Banbury for 8.30am.

“Now the children are being picked up at 7.16am.

“One of the parents only noticed when they were given a new bus route number with the pass.

“Coming into their final year, our children will now have an extended day. Lots of parents have talked about the early start, with a lot of unhappy children yesterday morning.”

There are 209 students in and around Bicester who use the service.

The restructured routes are now GRY1 from Kwik Fit opposite Cottage Hospital, GRY2 from Ambrosden, GRY3 from Langford Village and GRY4 from Launton.

For Langford villagers, this means an expected 75-minute journey to and from school rather than the previous 45 minutes.

Mrs Craig added: “They estimate 75 minutes but that is obviously before traffic and bad weather.

“If they had done this last year just before my son was going into Year 10, I would have taken him out, as it would have been very difficult in his final year.”

The changes are part of a wider drive to make savings in the council’s school transport budget.

The service was part of the subsidised buses provided by the council about three years ago and is in the process of being phased out.

Currently Year 10 and 11 students are the only ones to receive subsidised travel.

County council spokesman Owen Morton said: “The council made no stipulation that the number of routes should be reduced, but invited bids from providers to put forward their most cost-efficient solution.

“There is no requirement to consult on a retendering exercise of this nature.

“The council held discussions with the school to keep them informed throughout the process.

“However, since details of the timetable were only finalised last month, and due to the intervening holiday period, there was no opportunity to give families any genuine advance warning. We apologise for this.”

Grayline company director Alan Gray added: “We are assuring parents that as school starts if we are able to move routes around we will to ensure that routes are no longer than 75 minutes.”