ANGRY parents claim their children were left stranded by a no-show replacement bus service.

Mold Alun pupils living in Buckley were left in the cold on Monday morning as the first week without the cancelled number 28 bus began in chaotic fashion.

Flintshire-based bus operator Townlynx stopped running its number 28 Wrexham to Mold service on Friday and now some students are having to rely on other services including one provided by Arriva.

Townlynx has diverted its B529K service to run through Buckley for students with school bus passes, with pupils without passes having to get to school via Arriva or taxi services.

But parents have complained that Arriva services failed to show on Monday morning, with Mold Alun students left stranded in Buckley.

Parent Beth Lewis said: "My daughter rang me frantically saying the bus hadn't come. She stood there until 8.45 when she headed home, ringing me on the way.

"I couldn't answer because I was in work but it was just lucky I could get out of work to take her.

"The driver of the Number 28 bus, which she used to get until last Friday, has told her where to get the bus from and which service it was but it didn't go past her.

"It's her GCSE year so she can't afford to miss any school.

The parent added: "The person I spoke to at the council this morning said she should make her way to Buckley Cross and get the bus there, but that's over a mile and a half from our house.

“My daughter dislocated her knee a couple of years ago and still struggles at times with walking long distances, especially when it's cold."

Steve Jones, Flintshire ‘s chief officer for Streetscene and transportation said: “In response to the number 28 withdrawal, Flintshire County Council officers were on site in Buckley and reported no concerns.

“We also made contact with Mold Alun School who also received no reports of concern from parents.

"Officers were on site at Mold Alun School yesterday afternoon to ensure everything ran smoothly for home journeys and we are not aware of the Arriva bus not operating yesterday.”

Fellow parent Debbi Griffinhope added: "We were told by the Council's transport department that children without school passes now needed to use the Number 4 Arriva service, but that would only take them as far as Mold bus station and it is a half an hour walk from there to Mold Alun.

"The council told me on Friday it is only responsible for the children with passes and ones without can't use the bus even if they pay.

“The Arriva bus never turned up on Monday morning.

"Why can't those without bus passes use the newly diverted Townlynx bus and keep paying as previously?"

For the local authority, Mr Jones added: “Flintshire County Council provides free home to school transport for pupils who are entitled under the current policy.

"Where there are spare seats on designated transport vehicles, these can be sold to pupils who are not entitled to free travel - these places are called concessionary spare seats. These seats are made available only if the capacity of the vehicle allows and there is no guarantee that they will be available from one term to another.”

Buckley parents are also being advised that their children can take the Stagecoach Number 5 service from either outside the Buckley Precinct, or Nant Mawr Crescent at 8.12am and 8.15am. This service will take children to Mold.

Arriva Buses Wales has been approached for a comment.