A special needs pupil is stuck at home because she lives less than 200 yards under the distance needed for a council taxi service to school.

Now her mother faces having to give up work so the 12-year-old can attend lessons.

Louise Cox, of Spenser Close, Walcot, is currently stuck at home because she lives around 2.9 miles away from Crowdys Hill School in Gorse Hill.

If she lived three miles away, she would qualify for a taxi service. As it is, she lives just within the three-mile radius.

She now faces a one-hour walk to and from school, which her mother, Jane, says she is not capable of.

Up until October 20, Louise was picked up by a taxi from home and taken to school. But the service has been cut because of a new council cost-cutting policy.

The services for distances under three miles only runs now for pupils who are seen as especially vulnerable if they walk.

Louise, who suffered brain damage after her umbilical chord became wrapped around her neck when she was born, has a mental age of seven.

Mrs Cox, 35, a contract cleaner, said: "Just before half term I was sent a notice stating that my child had been assessed and she was not vulnerable, and the taxi would be withdrawn after half term.

"They are suggesting I allow a girl with a mental age of seven to walk almost three miles, to and from school, in the dark, every single day. My husband and I both start work at 6am, so we aren't able to walk her to school. Her sister Nicky, 15, helps her get ready. Louise isn't capable of catching a bus into town, never mind the two buses she'd need to get to school."

Last week, the Evening Advertiser told the story of Jade Lees, 14, a fellow pupil at Crowdys Hill who lives in Marlowe Avenue and is now no longer entitled to the taxi service.

Like Mrs Cox, Jade's parents say there is no way she would allow their daughter to walk or cycle alone. Jade is currently unable to attend school regularly.

Her father Ian Lees, 37, a site manager from Walcot, said: "I'm unable to take Jade to school every day because of work.

I took her today but I couldn't get her in until 10am, which is no good for Jade or the school. My wife is thinking of giving up her job and working nights so that she can walk Jade to school."

The decision to cut down on the special needs taxi service was made a year ago following a consultation with the school and parents. Parents can appeal against withdrawal of the service but this process takes up to three months.

During the summer the council ran an unsuccessful recruitment campaign to get people to walk special needs pupils to schools.

Crowdy's Hill head teacher Keith Smith said: "The criteria to which pupils are allowed free transport and the stringency with which it is being applied are vague."

Alison Tarrant, Mencap campaigns officer, said: "It is the local authority's duty to provide appropriate facilities for people with a learning disability. If this child is refused the transport she needs to get to school she is effectively being denied her fundamental right to an education because of her disability."

Council spokesman Andrew Bennett said: "We understand that both families intend to appeal against this ruling, where the full facts will come to light."