A NEWPORT dad says he is angry that the bus service which takes his disabled son to school was cancelled without notice.

Twelve-year-old Craig Williams, of Malpas, has sever learning difficulties, is autistic, has epilepsy and cataracts in both eyes and attends Maes Ebbw special school in Maesglas.

On the morning of September 25 he was picked up by bus company CATS transport as usual but at lunch time Craig’s mum Nicola, 38, was contacted by the school to say the service had been cancelled because the company had gone into voluntary liquidation and she would have to pick him up.

The bus service has now resumed with a new company but Craig's dad Mark, 36, said his son was distressed by the change. He said: “It’s hard enough for us to get used to new people let alone someone like Craig. It’s difficult for him.”

Because of his learning difficulties Craig can be a handful on the bus and his family had an agreement with the bus escort that he could take his Nintendo DS games console with him to keep him entertained.

During school hours it would be kept in the bus glove box and would be given back to him for the journey home.

His family say because the bus did not return to pick him up that day his Nintendo DS was not returned to him, causing him great distress.

Mr Williams contacted the company who said Craig didn’t take it on the bus that day.

A spokeswoman for Newport council said it was notified at lunchtime on September 25 that the transport operator had gone into liquidation and worked closely with the school to arrange transport home.

She added the council was not liable for individuals’ personal items.

Alan Morgan, of CATS transport, said he had spoken to staff who said they did not see Craig bring the console on the bus that morning.

He said he had spoken to the family and advised them to contact the police on the matter.