Bus hike drives students into cars.

Byline: By Dave Black 

Northumberland County Council's green credentials were questioned last night after hundreds of A-level and college students were found to have been boycotting school buses.

1,000 fewer students are using school transport in the county than in 2003 when the council introduced fares ( and followed that up with a massive 53% hike in the cost of an annual travel pass to pounds 360 last year.

Critics said the charges had forced the teenagers into cars to get to schools and college ( calling into question the authority's green credentials ( and they said it had resulted in little significant reduction in the council's annual school transport bill.