PUPILS and parents from Chepstow took part in the second protest march in a week over a decision to stop running a free school bus service.

Around 200 people gathered at Chepstow Comp-rehensive school on Friday and began marching to Bulwark, along the proposed 'safe walking route' marked out by the council.

The protesters were marshalled along the route by police as they held up placards and chanted: "Save our buses".

One of the protesters, Amanda Jones, from Bulwark, whose 16-year-old daughter Victoria attends the school said: "We have got to stand firm against the council and keep the pressure on.

"We are not going to let this matter drop because we are still worried about the safety of our children and that is never going to change. ""I think the council needs to sort this problem out now and we just can't believe they expect our children to walk this route."

After inquiries from the Free Press, Dave Hoare, of Classic Buses in Chepstow, gave the protesting parents a lift to the school, where they were joined by a large number of schoolchildren.

The group then made their way up Piggy's Hill towards Bulwark shops in a peaceful manner.

Wayne Giles, a driver for Kingfisher Travel who ran the now axed bus service, said: "We have been told by our boss that today is the last time we are going to do this route. It's a shame because we really enjoy doing it and the children are as good as gold.

"I feel that it is not a safe route to walk because the pavements are too narrow to cope with all the children leaving school at the same time."

Mayor Cllr Armand Watts, who was also on the march, said: "Peter Fox (cabinet member for lifelong learning) seems reluctant to hold a public meeting on the issue which would be in the best interests of everyone concerned with the problem.

"A letter of appeal has been sent to Mon-mouthshire County Council from Cllr Pam Birchall and myself, but I am concerned the officers are reluctant to put it in front of the correct panel members."