PARENTS of Little Hulton pupils forced to travel further to school from September have called on education chiefs to arrange a new school bus.

They are angry that children who would have gone to Little Hulton Community School will need to travel a mile further and get to school 25 minutes earlier after it merges with Walkden's Joseph Eastham High this summer.

A new school, Harrop Fold High, starts on the Walkden site from September with lessons starting at 8.25am.

But mother Tracey Murphy said she was worried children who could not get to school on time would decide to "skive" instead.

She said some worried parents were even threatening to withdraw their children from school in protest.

"I am really concerned that if my children can't get to school for 8.25am they are going to end up in detention.

"It is a lot further to walk. We have spoken to the headmaster about the bus service and there is nothing organised, even though we asked for a reorganised bus service when the merger was approved. Now we are quickly running out of time."

The new school will operate on two sites while Salford Council decides whether to build a new school building or extend the existing one.

However, all new Year Seven pupils will be based at the Walkden site from September.

Mrs Murphy added: "There are parents threatening to keep their children away from school. If children can't get there they are likely to wag it then go home later.

"I am genuinely concerned about my daughter having to get the bus at around 8am. If she misses it there is no way she can get in on time."

But a spokesman for Salford Council confirmed it had no plans to increase the number of bus services in the area at school-run times.

He added: "Plenty of children make their way to the old Joseph Eastham site and we feel there are adequate bus services available to get the pupils to the school on time."