Pupils at Hilbre High School have been left without a school bus service after Merseytravel terminated the operator's contract with immediate effect.

The move has caused dismay among parents who are asking how their children are expected to get to school when classes restart on Monday.

Now Moreton and Saughall Massie councillor Chris Blakeley is calling on Merseytravel to take urgent action to get a replacement service for when children return after the half-term break.

Merseytravel's interim chief executive Frank Rogers has responded by saying the service was pulled with immediate effect due to "continued and persistent problems with an operator."

But he could not guarantee a replacement will be found in time.

Several parents have contacted the Globe to object.

One wrote: "Now how are my kids supposed to get to school?

"We got a letter from principal at Hilbre to advise that buses are withdrawing a number of Wirral services from today and we are to prepare for disruption if Merseytravel can't find another operator in time for return after half-term.

"They also cited pupil behaviour as a reason - we have been unaware of any issues and now my well-behaved son and his friends could suffer.

"These bus contracts should include for a longer notice period to allow alternative arrangements to be put in place.

"Potential chaos looms."

Another said: "Hilbre High School notified parents on the evening of February 11 that the school bus service that our children use and pay for to get to school is cancelled.

"No alternatives have been arranged.

"This means the children are now on half-term, passes have been paid for until April, yet we now have to pay again and waste the half-term time we have with our children looking for transport for an unknown period."

Councillor Blakeley fumed: “The first I knew of this was when I received an email from one of my constituents telling me that the bus service had been withdrawn with immediate effect, leaving them, and I am sure many other parents, in distress with no alternative being thus provided throwing people’s lives into turmoil.

“I immediately contacted the chief executive of Merseytravel and received a response confirming the contract had been terminated - but sadly not providing an immediate solution and telling people they would have to make alternative arrangements in the interim.

"Clearly people rely on this service to get their children to school and withdrawal of the service causes huge problems for them, particularly those who have to work and those without their own transport."

He continued: "“I am disappointed that Merseytravel, knowing they had problems with the service provider, have removed this service without having a replacement service in place.

"I have made this known to them, stressing the need to provide an alternative bus service, even if it’s only a temporary stop-gap until they can put in place a longer term solution.”

Interim travel boss Mr Rogers wrote to Cllr Blakeley saying: "I would advise that due to continued and persistent problems with an operator Merseytravel has taken the decision to terminate a series of contracted services that serve schools.

"This includes services calling at Hilbre High School.

"This decision has not been taken lightly but has been made in line with our Performance Management Framework and following a period in which the operator was required to improve the service.

"Unfortunately despite repeated attempts this improvement has not been achieved.

 "Merseytravel are now seeking to replace the contracts for these services, however at this time we are unable to guarantee that we can replace these services completely, nor in time for the start of the new term."

The letter continues: "Any future service provision may operate in a different way to how it has operated previously.

"We are making every available effort to replace services but in the interim we would advise that parents should consider other means of transport for their children until otherwise advised.

"We are at present tendering for replacement services and this is the reason why we cannot guarantee, nor as yet confirm, the nature of any replacement services.

"Our colleagues in Traveline can provide advice and guidance on other services available or alternatively other options can be explored through the journey planner on our website.

"We appreciate your assistance on this matter whilst we seek a solution as expediently as possible and we are working closely with the school."