An extra school bus is to go into service after overcrowding left pupils having to walk miles to get to a new secondary school.

On at least three days last week the B74 service for Immanuel Community College, Thackley, was full by the time it set off from Harrogate Road.

Many of the children left waiting at subsequent stops in Eccleshill, Thorpe Edge and Ravenscliffe had no option but to walk.

Nyree Devanny, of Fagley, walked her 11-year-old daughter and a group of her friends into school three mornings running because there was no alternative bus.

It was a two-and-half mile trip and the children arrived at about 10.15am - nearly two hours late.

"I think it is ridiculous," she said. "They should have been able to sort something out. There are lots of kids all over the place being left stranded. They were late going back to school anyway and they are going to miss out on more lessons because of this."

Immanuel head teacher Tim Cloke said the school was not responsible for the situation and had been trying to resolve it since the summer.

But a stream of telephone calls and faxes to Bradford Council and bus company, First Bradford, had finally paid off with news that another bus would serve the area.

"I would like to pay tribute to the pupils that have walked long distances to school and the patience and understanding of the parents who have every right to a good bus service," Mr Cloke said.

Brandon Jones, of First Bradford, said school buses were provided according to the requirements of Metro and Bradford Council. He confirmed that another school bus would now serve the area.

A Bradford Council spokesman said when bus contracts had been arranged it was thought that lower school pupils would be in temporary accommodation rather than the new site on Leeds Road. The two buses now serving the B74 route would be sufficient to cope with the number of pupils.

Meanwhile a group of parents say they are now satisfied with the number of staff on road safety duty as children leave the school.

Parents had contacted the Telegraph & Argus, saying they were worried that only two staff had been supervising pupils crossing the busy Leeds Road.

They said children were not using the pedestrian crossing and feared that an accident would happen. But the next night, after the T&A had contacted Immanuel College about the problem, six teachers were on duty.

"This is all we wanted," said parent Anita Farrar. "This is brilliant if it continues like this."

Mr Cloke said the school had been doing everything possible to ensure the safety of children after they left the school.

Letters had already been sent to parents emphasising the importance of using the pedestrian crossing and in future there would be at least six staff on duty at the main entrance every night.