ANGRY Tories have hit out at the delay over installing spy cameras on school buses to combat violence and vandalism.

After a successful trial, Lancashire County Council highways and transport committee was asked to make £17,500 available to help 18 bus operators install a camera each. But the ruling Labour group deferred a decision to next month's public transport sub-committee to allow time for details to be ironed out.

Conservative leader Coun P Case immediately accused Labour of being in the grip of the "pseudo civil liberties lobby."

She told them: "There are children who have been severely damaged by fellow children. Here we have a practical way of resolving a problem and you are pussyfooting. It is a disgrace.

"I am astounded. I really believed you cared about the safety of children. The experiment has taken place and you should now be getting on with the job."

Coun Richard Toon hit back: "Coun Case would be huffing and puffing if pictures were released to the media.

"We need clear agreed guidelines about how material is going to be used. It is not a simple issue taking pictures of children under 16.

"We have to be clear who has right of access to the material - should it be the parents, the children, the bus operators or the council - and what the ground rules are for releasing it."

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