TWO free buses are being run to take traveller children to Crays Hill Primary School every day - even though they live less than a mile away.

It is costing taxpayers nearly £150 per day - or £30,000 a year - for a minibus to ferry children from Dale Farm in Oak Lane to the school in nearby London Road.

There is even a back-up service to pick up young travellers who may have overslept or had a lie-in.

The education authority usually only provides transport for pupils who live at least three miles from a school, but it says the dedicated service is needed because the school route is unsafe to walk.

The troubled school has 62 children on its roll, all but two of them from the traveller community. A source close to the school says attendance has been as low as five pupils, with staff sometimes out numbering children.

Parish council chairman David McPherson-Davis said he sees the two non-traveller children walking to school. He said: "I am disgusted.

"I cannot believe my taxes are being squandered like this when the only two children from the village have to walk to school. I cannot understand how a bus is needed."

The school admits attendance is poor and needs to improve.

Late bus for lie-ins

TWO buses have been laid on for travellers who live less than a mile from school in a desperate bid to boost attendance, it has been claimed.

Taxpayers are forking out nearly £30,000 a year - £150 per day - for a minibus to ferry children from Dale Farm, in Oak Lane, to Crays Hill Primary School.

The cost of the contract includes £130 for the vehicle and £20 for the escort, based on 32 students being entitled to school transport.

Yet Essex County Council's usual policy is only to provide transport for pupils who live three or more miles away.

A source also told how the later service gives children who want a "lie-in" yet another chance to get to lessons at the school, near Billericay.

County Hall has admitted there is even the provision for a smaller bus to pick up stragglers later on.

The school has just 62 children, including two non-travellers. However, the county council claims the 16-seater minibus has to make two trips to the Dale Farm site because the first run is always jam-packed.

Yesterday an Echo reporter waited outside the school between 8.20am and 9.30am to see how many children were on board, but the bus did not show up.

No pupils were seen going into school either.

The source claimed: "Since half term we have had between five and seven children at school. The school is sending two buses to try to promote attendance.

"There is one before the start and one mid morning to collect any children who want a lie-in.

"What other school offers service like that?"

Tracey Chapman, the county councillor for education, admitted latecomers were using the service.

She said: "Two trips are required as the bus cannot accommodate all the children at once and it also allows for latecomers.

"The transport contract began in April after members found the route met a dangerous route criteria, meaning it was unsuitable to be walked and did not have enough paths or grass verges to make it safe for children."

The school would not comment apart from saying attendance was "poor".

The source also disputed attendance figures which staff told the Echo had risen last month. An investigation has now discovered attendance has actually got worse since the school was shamed as having the worst truancy in 2004 with attendance rates of 78 per cent. The school justifies its "improvement" claim by saying attendance has risen to 70 per cent since a previously undisclosed rock bottom rate of 63 per cent last November.

Despite the shocking figures, the county council maintains the school will stay open.

Yet education bosses have decided to shut the £25million Bishops Park College, in Clacton, which has 500 pupils, just five years after it opened because of falling pupil numbers. It is also closing Furtherwick School on Canvey for similar reasons. Both are secondary schools.

Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield said: "We have a different policy for secondary and primary schools.

"A secondary must have at least 700 to 800 pupils to offer a wide-ranging GCSE curriculum.

"We have a policy of making efforts not to close primary schools. They are needed for the community. But if just five children have turned up it is unacceptable and I am making immediate inquiries."