A HAMPSHIRE bus company is to cancel a school bus route.

Xelabus, which operates services in Southampton and Eastleigh, has made the decision to stop its 503 Thornden School morning service after February half-term.

The afternoon school service will continue,

Firm managing director Gareth Blair confirmed that 80 pupils use the afternoon service each day, compared with the morning service, which can “struggle to reach double digits”.

Steve Hicks, deputy headteacher at the Chandler’s Ford school, said: “We received the information from Xelabus the day before we broke up for Christmas.

“We thought we sent the information out the day we came back, but we were unaware that it hadn’t been sent. We found out on Tuesday, so we sent a quick email stating about the cancellation.”

Mr Hicks added: “

We’re looking to find a solution to it, and that can’t be done in a short amount of time, but we will keep parents informed. We need to finish conversations with Xelabus first, before we look ahead.”

Mr Blair added: “The removal of the 503 Thornden School bus morning journey has not been taken lightly.

“We have operated this service for six years and we have seen a big decline in passenger usage. The service is therefore no longer sustainable.”

He added:

“We do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The service stops at Barton Peveril, ASDA in Chestnut Avenue, Valley Park and Kingsway shops, before the school.