A SCHOOL'S non-uniform charity day caused a transport row when almost a dozen pupils left their bus passes at home in their blazers.

Today one angry father said he was disgusted his children had to pay out £1 each to get to and from Burnley to St Christopher's High School, Accrington.

But education bosses said passes must be carried at all times and that the children would not have been left unattended.

Andrew Halstead's children Katie, 12, and Arron, 14, were among a group of 11 pupils without their passes.

Mr Halstead said: "I'm absolutely disgusted. I drive the children to the bus stop every morning and it's two miles away from our home. If they hadn't paid they would have had to walk home along that busy road with no protection because the driver wouldn't let them go to school.

"I understand they didn't have their bus passes because the passes were in their uniforms but surely some common sense should have been used.

"My daughter was quite upset by the whole thing and they both had to go without their lunch.

"As far as I'm concerned when I drop them off I'm leaving them in capable hands to get to school."

Katie and Arron get on the 959 bus every morning from Glen View Road.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said passes must be carried at all times but denied the children would have been left on their own and said the school secretary could have loaned them money for their lunch.

"Pupils must have a valid pass or pay the appropriate fares when using school buses," he said.

"We have been assured by the bus company that tickets were issued to pupils who did not have passes.

"We wouldn't expect the kids to be left. We would expect arrangements to be made. If they don't have money or their pass there is flexibility in the system for the driver to take the name of the pupils and checks can be made later to make sure they get to school safely."

The non-uniform day raised £689.85 for charity.

Rigbys Executive Coaches, which runs the service refused to comment.