A businessman has offered to help two sisters who are being denied free travel to school by education chiefs because their near six-mile round trip to school along busy roads and past derelict sites is deemed 'safe'.

Care home owner David Crabtree today said he was prepared to pay for Emily and Rose Clark's bus journeys to and from St Joseph's RC School in Cunliffe Road, Manningham, Bradford, until the situation is resolved.

Emily, 12, and Rose, 11, have been told by Education Bradford they must walk the 2.88 miles from their home in Roxby Street, Little Horton, along Manchester Road, through the city centre and along Manningham Lane.

They have been told they do not qualify for free bus travel because they live fewer than three miles from their school and the journey is described as being 'safe' for walking.

Mr Crabtree, 50, who owns family-run business Crabtree Care Homes, said he was astounded when he read in the Telegraph & Argus of the family's battle with education chiefs.

"This is an absolutely ludicrous situation," he said.

"Crabtree Care Homes would be willing to sponsor the girls to go to school by paying for their travel. A case of this nature should be viewed on its individual merits and not as bureaucracy gone mad.

"For example if they walked from Cottingley to Beckfoot School there wouldn't be a problem but walking through the city centre on these dark nights is ridiculous.

"In my view if I was in this situation I wouldn't even send my children to school until the matter was resolved and I hope it does get sorted out shortly."

Emily was originally awarded a bus pass but Education Bradford, which administers school bus passes on behalf of Bradford Council, has now threatened to withdraw it, saying it was granted in error.

Her mum Siobhan Dowling appealed, which involved walking the route from home to school with two councillors to try to prove her case, but she lost.

Miss Dowling today thanked Mr Crabtree although she said she was unable to accept his offer to pay £20 a month each for her daughters' bus travel.

"I am very grateful for his support but I am unable to accept his money as this has never been a financial thing. My battle with the Council is on the principle of providing a safe route to school for my children," she said.

Miss Dowling said she was now considering asking the Local Government Ombudsman to investigate.

Today Bradford Council leader Margaret Eaton said she had been contacted by Mr Crabtree and would investigate the matter.

"I don't know why this decision was made," she said. "I will certainly look into this but I can't overturn a decision by an independent committee."

Education Bradford officials are now considering whether to withdraw Emily's pass after her family's appeal was lost.