Bradford schoolchildren have been warned to behave on the buses or face their services being axed.

First Bradford has temporarily cut the B73 service, which takes pupils to Immanuel College, for a week after complaints of bad behaviour and vandalism.

Youngsters are having to find alternative ways to get to school.

And the company has threatened to withdraw further services if the bad behaviour continues.

Parent Pauline Powell, whose 14-year-old daughter Simone uses the B73, says her daughter has had to stay at home this week because she can't get to school.

"I'm a working parent and have to be at work for 8.30am in Leeds," said Mrs Powell. "I'm not sending my daughter by herself - there are too many perverts around.

"Why should children who have behaved be punished? If they know the children who did it they shouldn't penalise the others."

Brandon Jones, from First Bradford, said: "Following a number of serious incidents the B73 has been withdrawn for five days.

"The decision has not been taken lightly but has been taken in view of the incidents that have occurred on the vehicle and we are not willing to risk the safety of the customers on the bus or our staff nor other road users."

Mr Jones said there had been incidents of vandalism and misbehaving on buses for a number of months and the latest one was the final straw for the company.

Last week the Telegraph & Argus reported that children from Tong School had ripped out seats from the A44 service and thrown them out of the bus at other vehicles.

Mr Jones said: "We are and have worked closely with the LEA and school to try to remedy the problem. This has included several meetings with the police, our operations director and our schools liaison inspector. In fact the school liaison inspector spent many hours in schools speaking to children about safety and behaviour."

He said warnings had been given at the end of February that any further incidents would lead to the bus being withdrawn.

Deputy head at Immanuel College, Craig Watson, said the bus was a privilege for pupils and not a legal requirement as none lived more than three miles away. He said the problems of disruptive behaviour were being addressed and a system of boarding cards had been introduced.

A letter sent to parents at the end of last month says: "Boarding cards will only be issued to pupils who have a good disciplinary record at the school. The boarding card will be withdrawn from any pupil involved in inappropriate behaviour in school or on the school bus. If any damage is caused on the bus then that service will be withdrawn for seven days in the first instance. If there is a repeat of the damage the service will be withdrawn indefinitely.

"It is most unfortunate that these steps have to be taken but I hope you will agree that these are necessary to ensure the safety of all pupils and the continuation of these services."