Anxious parents are breathing a sigh of relief after Hertfordshire County Council announced a U-turn on plans to scrap a popular school bus route.

Furious parents had castigated a recent decision to do away with the 860 service, which takes more than two dozen girls from Bricket Wood and Chiswell Green to Loreto College in St Albans.

They were further irritated by the lack of consultation offered before the decision was taken.

The service, however, will return in time for the start of term in September as Watford-based Mullany's Coaches willd to take on the service from current contractors Arriva.

Watford MP Claire Ward, who received the news from council chief executive Caroline Tapster last Friday, welcomed the development but expressed anger that the service had been cancelled in the first place.

She said: “I’m delighted that they have listened to the concerns that have been raised by parents. But this is the second time this has happened now.

“There is really no need to worry people like this.”

The row was initially reported by the Review's sister paper the Watford Observer after parents got in contact to express their outrage.

Anita Burton, of Curtiss Drive, Leavesden was concerned that her 12-year-old daughter would have to find an alternative and more expensive route to Loreto in Hatfield Road.

She said last week: “We opted for Loreto because we knew we could get Kacie there safely.

“Safety is a priority for us. With the 860 we can guarantee the girls are going to be dropped off outside the school.”