Free school buses have been axed in a moortop village, leaving children with a five-mile round trip each day for classes.

And their furious parents claim Bradford Council is putting cash before children's safety, as the youngsters will have to cross busy roads five times and hike between the two moortop villages in all weathers.

School buses used to be laid on to ferry pupils from Denholme to Parkside Secondary School in Cullingworth.

But the Council has cancelled the bus service because a newly-built pavement now runs between the two villages along Manywells Brow. The 2.5 mile-long route is rated by the authority as "a safe walking route".

However, Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton, whose Bingley Rural ward covers the school, said she was furious when she discovered that the bus passes were being axed.

"I have raised the roof and this is now being re-looked at," she said. "Anybody who knows that road can see how dangerous it is. Plus Denholme is above the snow line."

One mother who has walked it says the children will have to cross busy roads five times because the pavement does not continue on one side.

Gwyneth Patz's son Matthew, aged 11, starts at Parkside in September, and her daughter Jennifer, 13, is already a Year 8 pupil there.

"I have walked it myself, and it takes 40 minutes," said Mrs Patz, of Longhouse Lane, Denholme. "Children will have to criss-cross the main Keighley Road and Manywells Brow because the pavement stops at Manywells Crescent.

"They are asking schoolchildren as young as 11 to cross roads in total five times. It took me seven minutes to get across Keighley Road. It's disgusting that they're putting money before children's safety."

She estimates that between 40 and 50 families will be affected by the withdrawal of free bus passes. "I have spoken to three other mums and they are all putting letters of protest in," she said.

Mrs Patz believes some parents will insist on driving their children to and from school - which will only increase the traffic and hazard for those who do walk.

A spokesman for Bradford Council's interim education director, Phil Green, said: "Pupils in the Denholme area have previously qualified for free bus passes to Parkside because part of the route at Manywells Brow did not have a footpath, and was therefore not suitable for children to walk along.

"Improvements have now been made, and a pavement is in place along the whole route. It has been checked, and has been designated as a safe walking route.

"If parents have any concerns I urge them to write to us with details. They have the right to appeal against the decision - that has been explained in the letter."