DI Mashiter, the headteacher of John Mason School in Abingdon, is understandably concerned after the county council withdrew its free bus service for families living in Drayton.

The route between Drayton and Abingdon is about three miles long, which means the council can withdraw free school travel under national guidelines.

Everyone knows that the council has been forced to find millions of pounds of savings from its budget due to Government cuts.

But this decision, which also affects families in Milton whose sons attend St Birinus School, Didcot, could, according to parents, jeopardise pupils’ safety.

The council insists the route is safe for pupils to walk but there will be few parents, if any, who will allow their children to walk through the darkness to school and back home again at night.

Instead, they will be forced to pay for alternative transport, rearrange their working day or consider something more drastic — moving home.

Thirty-four families in Drayton will face upheaval in the new year so that the county council can make a relatively small saving.

Now would be a good time for county council leaders to review this decision to see if they can find a better way to make ends meet.