COST-cutting measures affecting school and college transport are to be considered by Wirral Council's cabinet committee.

Money-saving options, include scrapping travel passes for students aged 16 to 19 but providing free transport if they live more than four miles away from school and providing taxis for pupils with special needs.

They are expected to be considered by Labour's cabinet committee on education in two weeks' time.

Another option is for a change of policy, which would mean children who transferred to the same school as brothers and sisters would not be entitled to free transport if there was another school within three miles of their home.

Wirral Council plans to spend around £3.75m on home-to-school transport during this academic year and these proposals - which could save the authority more than £250,000 - were prompted by a report by the district auditor which said the council was paying more than other metropolitan boroughs for home-to-school and college transport.

Cllr Phil Davies, cabinet member for education and lifelong learning, said the proposals would be carefully considered in terms of the consequences on parents of schoolchildren.

Opposition councillors have objected to many of the proposals.