A campaign has been launched to allow sixth-form students in Wrexham wanting to study in Welsh to have the same free transport as those studying through English.

Sixth-form students currently attending the county's only Welsh-medium secondary school, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, do not receive free school transport due to council cutbacks.

This is in stark contrast to students at Coleg Cambria, which has a similar remit to service the entire county borough of Wrexham.

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Students attend Ysgol Morgan Llwyd from across the county borough and many are opting to leave the Welsh-medium sixth form due to the cost and convenience of transport to Coleg Cambria. 

Parents of two Nia and Stefan Lederle, from Rossett, are concerned about the coming winter months as their daughter Catrin is now having to take multiple public buses and long walks to get to school. 

Catrin and her younger sister used to get a council funded minibus to Ysgol Morgan Llwyd due to being over three miles from the school.

However, now Catrin has entered sixth form she is no longer eligible for this service. 

Catrin's father Stefan said: "There is no equality, if she was to study in English she would be able to get the bus to school (at Coleg Cambria) however because she wants to continue in Welsh (at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd) she is being punished."

He continued: "With the new Welsh speaking primary schools across Wrexham there is going to be an influx of students wanting to attend the Welsh sixth form, and they need a way to get there."

Whilst the cost of funding public transport and also the price of fuel for offering lifts is "substantial" Mr Lederle believes the issue is more about the principle. 

He added: "We should be promoting the Welsh language and make every effort for it to continue."

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru's North Wales MS, said: "I've written to ask Wrexham Council's education department why it is failing to ensure parity of access and equality for Welsh-language education.

"Ysgol Morgan Llwyd is the county's only Welsh-medium secondary school and I have been supplied with information that the lack of free school transport provision for pupils affects areas such as the Ceiriog Valley, Rossett and Coedpoeth.

"Parents have approached me to complain about this inequality and I'd like to know what the council is doing to rectify matters.

"If I don't have an answer, I'll be taking this further with the Welsh Language Commissioner, who should be willing to intervene to ensure students have a choice of educational provision."

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His comments were echoed by Wrexham Councillor Carrie Harper, who said a petition had been launched calling on Wrexham Council to "ensure parity for students across the county borough regardless of the language of education.

"Students at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd should get the same service as students studying through the medium of English.

"We hear a lot from Wrexham Council talking the talk about the Welsh language. Let's see whether they can walk the walk and provide practical support for students."

A spokesperson from Wrexham Council said: “Wrexham Council confirmed they understand the concerns raised by individual parents and are doing everything they can to resolve the matter.”