ISLE of Wight parents will now be able to purchase their child a one-way privilege bus seat.

Last week, the Isle of Wight Council announced it was scrapping one-way tickets for children who chose to attend school outside of their catchment area. 

More than 500 children use this service.

This, coupled with a 37 per cent price increase, meant one parent saw the annual cost of buses rise from £285 to £780 a year to send her two children to school.

One parent said: “It’s actually cheaper for us to drive them both to school, so we will be adding to the congestion around the high school."

Tickets now cost £130 a term.

Cabinet member for children's services, Paul Brading, said he had instructed officers to re-instate the morning and afternoon options, and hoped this would help parents.

He said: "I am pleased to announce that after speaking to parents, and considering e-mails received, I have instructed officers to re-instate the Privilege Bus option of an AM/PM pass for the coming year.

“Thank you to everyone for taking the trouble to raise this important issue with me, and I hope parents can now make the choice they want.”