The CPS said there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone over Stuart's death Schoolboy bus death 'accidental' Are pupils at unnecessary risk?

Speaking through a solicitor after the inquest into Stuart Cunningham-Jones' death his parents called for a decision not to charge anyone over the incident to be reviewed.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the hearing in Cardiff Coroner's Court, on Monday, after the jury said they believed a boy had interfered with the steering wheel.

Stuart died when the double-decker bus careered off the road and hit a tree near the village of Ystradowen in the Vale of Glamorgan in December 2002.

Outside the court, Peter Davies, solicitor for David and Joanna Cunningham-Jones, said: "They were surprised at the police's decision, on advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, not to prosecute those who caused the bus to leave the road.

Stuart was on the top-deck of the bus when it crashed

"We will be asking for that decision to be reviewed."

Mr Davies added: "Those responsible for Stuart's death will have to live with the consequences of their actions for the rest of their lives."

During the inquest the jury heard that the driver had been almost constantly distracted by other pupils "messing around".

The hearing was told that in the moments leading up to the crash, a boy had fallen and grabbed hold of the steering wheel.

It later emerged a fingerprint found on the bus's steering wheel matched that of a 14-year-old pupil on board the bus.

Stuart, a pupil at Cowbridge Comprehensive School sitting at front of the top deck of the service bus, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In June last year the CPS decided there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone in connection with the crash.

'Immediate steps'

Mr Davies said that Stuart's parents hoped some good would come out of his death, with action taken to guarantee the safety of children on buses.

"The family hope that others will benefit from their tragic loss and that Parliament, the Welsh Assembly and local authorities take immediate steps to ensure the safety of children on school buses."

Coroner Lawrence Addicott said he would write to the Vale of Glamorgan Council on matters that should be addressed to prevent a similar accident.

He said he would include recommendations drawn up by the jury, which were not read out in court.

The council said that some changes had already been made.

"The school transport arrangements on the Cowbridge to Talbot Green route have been altered and parents have been surveyed on their views in order to establish the way forward," said Estelle Hitchon, from Vale of Glamorgan Council.

But she added some statutory issues referred to during the inquest would have to be addressed at national level.

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Assembly Government said they had contacted all 22 local authorities in Wales to gather a picture of how they used public transport to get children to and from school.

The assembly's education committee is to undertaking a review in the summer.