Stuart was sitting on the top deck of the bus when it crashed Are pupils at unnecessary risk? Bus crash parents want prosecution

Stuart Cunningham-Jones died and more than 30 other children were injured when the vehicle crashed into a tree near the village of Ystradowen in the Vale of Glamorgan in December 2002.

On Monday, his parents asked for the case to be reviewed, after a coroner's inquest concluded with a verdict of accidental death.

Welsh Education Minister Jane Davidson and Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith have both supported these calls.

Chief Crown Prosecutor for South Wales, Huw Heycock, confirmed on Wednesday that the CPS was asking for a transcript of the coroner's proceedings.

He said this was usual in cases such as this and that it was to see if any new material had come to light in the proceedings.

"We would review the transcript to see if there is anything to re-review in the case," he said.

The bus was carrying 72 children when it crashed down an embankment

On Monday solicitor Peter Davies, who represents Stuart's family, said his clients had been surprised at the decision not to prosecute.

"I will be asking for that decision to be reviewed," he said.

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

During the week-long inquest at Cardiff Coroner's Court, the jury heard that the driver had been almost constantly distracted by other pupils "messing around" - and that, in the moments leading up to the crash, a boy had fallen and grabbed hold of the steering wheel.

Reginald Davies said he could not have avoided hitting the tree

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

Driver Reginald Davies broke down as he explained that he stopped the bus once because he felt some pupils' behaviour was becoming dangerous.

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

The inquest also heard how EST bus company director Terry Cooper had complained about unruly behaviour to the school five times over a three-month period.

Giving the verdict of accidental death, the foreman of the jury said: "We think it was caused by interference with the steering wheel, causing the bus to leave the road and collide with the tree."

In June last year, it was announced that the CPS had recommended to the police that there should be no criminal proceedings brought over the incident.