Bridgend council sent the details to around 109 taxi firms

Bridgend Council sent out the details as part of its process of inviting tenders for school transport contracts.

The local MP wants a change in school transport guidelines to stop children potentially being put "at risk".

The council said it no longer issued contact details to taxi firms. It added that all drivers on their list had been vetted by the Criminal Records Bureau.

But Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon wants assurances from the UK Government that guidelines will be amended to ensure there is no chance of vulnerable children being at risk from paedophiles.

The council confirmed to BBC Wales' The Politics Show that it had issued the information - including the times the children would be collected to go to school - to around 109 taxi firms.

However, in August, it was discovered the information had been sent to a dead man. When this happened, the council said, it had changed its policy, and details were no longer issued.

'Sorry episode'

The MP for Bridgend, Madeleine Moon, said she had tabled a parliamentary question on the matter, as she felt the practice was "placing children at risk".

"This information could have gone to people who have gone out of business," she said.

"It could be accessed by people who we really do not want to know where children are living."

The inquiry aims to find out if the practice is common across Wales

Geraint Davies of the teachers' union NASUWT Cymru said more care needed to be taken with information of this kind.

"Unfortunately, in this day and age, there are groups of people who will take advantage of children," he said.

"We cannot allow such groups of people to be in a situation where they can access vital and privileged information.

"This sorry episode should be an example to all authorities in Wales and should not under any circumstances be repeated."

An inquiry is now due to be held by the Office of the Children's Commissioner.

Assistant Children's Commissioner Sara Reid said it was important to find out if this was common practice across Wales.

"We've decided we do need to conduct some sort of review, probably involving a sample of local authorities to try and find out whether it is widespread," she said.