Parents met with MP Julia Drown last night in an attempt to resolve the crisis over school bus cuts.

And it seems the problem for pupils at Bradon Forest School has been solved for this academic year.

But parents fear the difficulties could resurface next year Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire County Council, who both operate within the area, get together and decide to operate a comprehensive service.

But some pupils living just within the boundary of one authority are ignored by buses run by the other authority even if they live in the road next to the bus stop.

Head teacher Len Spiers said it was a complex situation.

"Over the years West Swindon has grown in population and more pupils are coming to the school," he said.

"There are lots of different boundaries in terms of catchment area for admission and for those eligible for school transport.

"What is clear is that we need to ensure our pupils can continue to get here even if parents are happy to pay a fee to a private company."

Some pupils face arduous and costly journeys to the school in Purton because there aren't enough guaranteed seats on school buses.

Others have been making use of the number 53 public bus but have no assurance that the Thamesdown run service will continue running to its current timetable.

Norman Walter is worried that his 15-year-old daughter Kate will be left stranded if the bus company changes its present arrangements.

Mr Walter, from Westlea, said: "It is a ridiculous situation as we cannot get the guarantee we need that we will be able to get our children to school. At the moment the number 53 is running but we don't know what will happen in the future."

Lynda McPherson has four children who have all attended Bradon Forest as their designated school from their primary establishments.

Mrs McPherson said: "It is terrible that we might have to reconsider where our children go to school, not because of lack of places, but because of transport problems."

Julia Drown, MP for Swindon South, said that she had looked into the cost of hiring private companies to fill the school transport gap and found it to be extortionate.

Ms Drown said: "Unfortunately the prices quoted were way beyond what I had imagined.

"Clearly something has to be arranged for children to either have transport to school or for the council to pay out to ensure there are safe walking or cycle routes to school."

The parents said at the meeting that the school's location meant there were no safe walking routes, with the two main roads from the town lacking paths in many places.

Peter Fox, from Tribal, the company which runs Swindon's eduction department, said: "Our immediate action is to work with the school to determine how many children will be coming and needing transport over the next few years.

"We can then work out the size of the problem and come up with most practical answer."

After the meeting parents said they were glad to have been able to put their point of view to Ms Drown and hoped that some positive action would result.