Joanne Jones has collected 437 names on a petition

They are angry at plans to make them pay for a bus pass up-front instead of continuing to pay per trip.

A council spokesperson said it was a case of pay up-front or lose the bus.

There is no legal obligation for Conwy council to provide the bus between Llandudno Junction and Ysgol Aberconwy in Conwy because they are less than three miles apart.

Opponents have already collected 437 signatures on a petition against the change.

Joanne Jones, whose daughter Laura, 15, attends the school, said: "We are willing to compromise and realise that we might have to pay more because things do go up.

BUS PASS CHANGES Cost will be �100 for a pass from November 2006 to July 2006 Payment upfront or by direct debit at �12.50 per month for eight months There is a reduction for pupils planning to leave school in May The price from September 2007 will be �120 Source: Conwy Council

"But what we are really annoyed about it that its a lot of money to pay up-front, especially if you have more than one child at the school."

She said finding the money for each day - at present 25p each way - was easy, whereas finding the whole lot in one go, or having to set up a direct debit each month, was another bill to worry about.

A Conwy council spokesperson said the changes - which come into effect on 6 November - were aimed at ensuring the future of bus services for fare-paying pupils.

Councillor Barry Owen is worried the walk to school is too dangerous

"The alternative to rescheduling buses and introducing a pass scheme would have been to withdraw services for fare paying pupils leaving them to make their own way to school or pay the Arriva commercial fare.

"This scheme has enabled us to retain the services in a way that should be sustainable for the foreseeable future."

Llandudno Junction councillor Barry Owen is supporting the parents and said: "This is inside the three mile limit for free buses and everyone understands the costs might go up, but its the way the council have gone about it".

Mr Owen said he estimated around 250 children from Llandudno Junction, and a further 130 from nearby Deganwy could potentially end up walking across the bridge over the river Conwy into the town, if the changes were implemented.