PARENTS say they fear for the safety of their children who are being "herded on to a school bus like cattle".

The 49 bus service, run by Newport Transport, is needed by 77 St Joseph's pupils living in Bettws to travel between school and home every day.

But the single-decker bus only has the capacity to fit 72 pupils on it - 48 seated and 24 standing, something parents say is legal but not safe. Newport Transport met worried parents and education officials to discuss the problem.

They heard some children were missing from school or regularly late because the morning bus is full and doesn't stop for them.

Lea Shepherd, mother of 13-year-old Danika, said: "We have heard from our children that there have been up to 27 children standing on that bus, and sometimes there are three children to a seat.

"When she does get on the bus it's so full she stands right at the front by the driver, and is often thrown forward.

"It's a matter of time before someone is crushed from behind or thrown through the windscreen. I think 24 standing is too many, even if it is legal. "Why would they fit seatbelts to school buses if it was safe to stand? They herd these children onto the bus like cattle."

Several other concerned parents have also contacted the Argus. Newport Transport director Trevor Roberts said: "We provide travel passes, which guarantee pupils free travel, but not on a specific bus. "Drivers won't take more passengers than they are legally permitted to. Any overspill would have to use a normal bus service from Bettws to the bus station in town, and from there to school on a Duffryn service."

But Pat Harris, of safety charity Belt Up School Kids (BUSK), said: "Newport council has issued 77 passes to pupils from Bettws for free travel to St Joseph's. The bus only has the capacity for 72 so they are ignoring their duty of care."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "The travel passes we issue are good for travel on all bus services, so pupils not able to get on the school service can travel on other buses."

Deputy head teacher Rob King said: "Normally we work closely with the LEA and Newport Transport, and we have passed on these complaints to them."