PUPILS as young as four were left stranded on their first day of term because the school bus failed to arrive - AGAIN.

Children from Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd were left at the roadside on Tuesday - and parents then had to rush the youngsters to school.

Many were late for work after the Two Travel-run coach failed to turn up. A spokesman for Newport city council apologised to the children and their parents. "We have taken the issue up with the contractor and will be closely monitoring the level of service they provide in the future."

This is the second time pupils from Newport's Welsh school have been left standing at the bus stop.

Last May the Argus revealed minibus company Welcome Transport did not show up for the school run because no drivers were available.

Angry dad Mark Tregidon-Bellew, of Daffodil Lane, Rogerstone, was left waiting for the Two Travel bus yesterday, with his two eldest children, Meghann, seven, and five-year-old Ieuian.

"It's the first day of term and some parents are sending their babies to school for the first time," he said.

"You have to look at it from the children's point of view as well. They're off to the 'big school' and have been psyching themselves up for this."

Mr Tregidon-Bellew, who is married to Toni, 32, waited for more than 35 minutes at the stop near Morrison's supermarket in Afon village with a handful of other parents.

The bus was due at 8am, but by 8.30am parents had to rally round and ferry pupils to school themselves.

The 35-year-old sales manager works in Cardiff, and had to leave Meghann and Ieuian with a friend.

Mr Tregidon-Bellew, a PTA member, said it was the joint responsibility of Two Travel and the LEA to guarantee children got to school.

The couple, who also have a two-year-old daughter, Rhiann, are writing a letter of complaint to Two Travel and the LEA's pupils' services boss, Rita Reynolds, demanding an explanation and assurances it will not happen again.

He added: "They have to take the same responsibility as a parent in looking after these children and getting them to school."

No-one from Two Travel was available to comment.