THOUSANDS of children and students face being charged to travel to schools and colleges if the county goes ahead with proposals to scrap free bus travel.

Liberal Democrats on the county council have condemned the proposals, which will be considered next week.

They claim the move would leave low income families facing high bus fares if the shake-up is backed by the county's cabinet.

The council claims the move could save almost £4 million as it battles with the "tough choices" of where to cut costs.

It would lead to a reduction in the number of youngsters eligible for free travel.

A report admits that it could discourage less well-off youngsters from staying in education, increase carbon emissions by forcing parents to drive, and make some bus routes unviable. But the Conservative-run council says, with swingeing Government cuts coming, "doing nothing is not an option".

It has already agreed to ditch an "anomaly" which allows pupils free travel where parents choose faith and grammar schools more than three miles from home.

Alan Connett, the Lib Dems' education spokesman on the county council has criticised the proposals.

"We all understand the need for saving, but his report is being considered in isolation," he said. "If they go ahead with it the impact for families across the area could be very significant indeed.

"Household budgets are already stretched and to find more because of these proposed cuts is going to be very hard."

Lib-Dem councillor Anne Fry, from Newton Abbot, said: "The Conservatives have failed to see the consequences of their plans. We could end up with a ridiculous situation where the council has a legal obligation to help some children get to school and their bus will pass the doors of other children from the same school who are not entitled.

"The impact for families, schools and school catchments is not even considered in the report, so how can a reasonable decision be taken?"

Legally, children aged eight to 11 are entitled to free school transport if they are from low income families and live at least two miles from school.

Conservative Christine Channon, cabinet member for schools and skills, said the council faced a budget cut of up to 40 per cent in the Comprehensive Spending Review to be announced on October 20. In view of this it was not really possible to continue to provide some discretionary services.