A coach company which has transported thousands of children to school over three decades has closed.

McLeans Coaches, in Windrush Park Road, Witney, operated school bus journeys in west Oxfordshire and excursions throughout the UK.

The company, founded in 1982, was put into liquidation by its owners on Friday, making its 22 employees redundant.

Managers denied action against the firm by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Vosa) over 153 alleged safety and licensing failings had affected the decision.

Business manager Roger Alder, who has been with the firm for 20 years, said the industry was having a tough time at the moment and blamed high insurance costs for the decision.

He said the firm’s premium had this year risen to £60,000, compared with £43,000 last year.

Mr Alder said: “We couldn’t afford it and they would not negotiate from it, because they said the transport industry was high-risk.

“Our broker went out to several other insurance companies and said a lot of them were not interested at all.

“I’m feeling very, very sore at the moment but we took the commercial decision and sadly it was not viable to the company.

“Making 22 employees redundant was the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life.”

Mr Alder said McLeans was financially solvent and if the insurance premium had been lower, the company could have survived.

He said the company’s 23 vehicles would either go back to the finance company which owned them or would be sold.

The company had 19 contracts with Oxfordshire County Council to run school bus routes in west Oxfordshire.

Council spokesman Gemma Watts said: “All the contracts have been covered from Monday by alternative providers.”

A court case brought by Vosa against McLeans over 153 alleged safety and licensing failings was due to be held at Banbury Magistrates’ Court last Friday, It was adjourned until March 30 at the request of Vosa, which declined to comment.

Mr Alder added: “The decision to close definitely had nothing to do with the court case.”