Two mums have won their year-long battle to have their disabled children transported an extra few hundred yards to school.

In identical, but separate, cases Kathy Allday-Scott and Marilyn Adey were told their Downs Syndrome children could not have free transport to school because education chiefs disagreed with the parents' choice of school.

But the Council has been told by appeals panels - sitting within a week of each other - that their decision was wrong and they must provide transport for the youngsters.

"It was a ludicrous decision in the first place," said Mrs Allday-Scott, of Grove House Road, whose 13-year-old daughter, Aimee, was at the centre of the case.

"I have fought and fought and it has been like banging your head against a brick wall.

"Obviously, I am pleased to have won, but it has taken a long time and a lot of hard work. I don't think it should have come to this."

Mrs Adey, of Thackley, echoed the sentiments and said the long campaign for her 14-year-old son Christian's transport had been an exhausting one.

"You go through all this worry and distress. It is bureaucracy gone mad. It should never have come to this."

Both youngsters were pupils at Bolling Special School, which caters for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties. But as they grew and developed, their needs changed and they required less intensive care.

Their mums wanted them to go to Haycliffe, where both had already spent time and formed relationships with fellow pupils and staff.

But the Council said the duo should go to Chapel Grange Special School because it was nearer to their homes. It refused to pay for transport to Haycliffe.

The school is only 200 yards further to Haycliffe than Chapel Grange from Mrs Allday-Scott's home and 300 yards from Mrs Adey's home.

Both mothers are fuming that they have been put through the mill and Mrs Allday-Scott is considering taking her case to the local government ombudsman.

A spokesman for Bradford Council declined to go into depth about the cases.

With regard to Mrs Allday-Scott's case, he said: "We are satisfied that the decision-making for this case was carried out with proper procedures and we would provide evidence of this in response to any inquiry by the Ombudsman."

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