Three school buses were banned from the road after spot checks by police.

They were among 30 vehicles checked as they carried children to school. Sixteen were also found to have minor defects.

Officers from the Witney-based traffic department and vehicle examiners from the Department of Transport visited schools in the Abingdon and Didcot areas yesterday, and directed the buses to a check site at Marcham Weighbridge.

Two of the three buses had rear stop lights not working and the other a faulty plate on the floor inside.

Drivers from Jeffs Coaches, based near Banbury, and Heyfordian Travel, from Upper Heyford, were issued with immediate prohibition notices ordering the owners to put the faults right immediately or have the buses removed by recovery trucks. Pc Adrian Wilson, of Witney traffic, said: "Rear stoplights were not working on two. If they were being followed by a 38-tonne lorry which rammed into the back of them it could be quite serious.

"We've had collapsed suspensions before and to lay members of the public they probably do not seem as serious as each other but they are still prohibited from going on the highway."

He said the plate inside the bus could have given way but it was unlikely anybody would have fallen through the bottom of the vehicle.

Nine companies were tested and just 11 of all the buses were found to be fault-free. Officers issued six delayed prohibition notices giving operators ten days to put faults right while ten defect notices were given out informing operators of minor faults.

Minor faults could be oil leaks, indicators not working or fraying brake cables.

Sgt Alan Penny, of Witney traffic, said: "Although more than 60 per cent of vehicles had defects, I am pleased to say that more were of a minor nature.

"Our children's safety is paramount and we will be conducting similar checks in future."

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