Yellow buses have proved a hit with many pupils and schools

Staffordshire County Council first began using the vehicles to take children to school six years ago.

But the service has been so efficient it has expanded from a seven-strong operation into a fleet of 30 vehicles.

Council spokesman Martin Watkins said: "Yellow buses have proved popular with pupils, schools and parents."

Children "delighted"

He told BBC News Online: "The children are delighted with their buses.

We have the benefit of a fleet of modern vehicles built to high-specifications that we have been able to tailor to our own needs Martin Watkins Staffordshire County Council

"The vehicles are nice and smart and branded and the pupils are met each day by the same driver who they get to know.

"They also have many safety features - in the event of a worst-case scenario, such as a bus rolling over, they are specially strengthened to prevent the roof and windows collapsing, which is where most injuries come from."

The vehicles all have safety belts and CCTV for the driver to see clearly when he is reversing.

Staffordshire County Council decided to launch its own service after finding prices charged by private contractors were escalating.

Mr Watkins said: "We decided it would cheaper to do it ourselves.

"Running the service in-house also gave us the benefit of having a fleet of modern vehicles built to high-specifications that we have been able to tailor to our own needs.

'Great value'

"As well as running daily services for children getting to and from schools, we have them on hand to use for activities during the school day such as trips to swimming pools."

The council initially purchase seven buses in 1998, and was so pleased with the service it bought eight more in 2000.

This year, it bought a further 15.

The council uses its fleet to service 16 high schools, mainly ferrying pupils to and from rural areas.

But with 420 schools in its area, the council says it still needs to use 400 buses supplied by private contractors.

Mr Watkins added: "We still use private contract vehicles, but we find by having our own service in-house helps keeps contractors' prices keen."