THE ROW over the safety of council-approved primary school buses rages on as council leader Marie Rimmer hit back at a report in another local newspaper.

In the article, Liberal Democrat Councillor John Beirne claimed that children's lives were at risk because some of the First Manchester buses now used to ferry pupils to activities outside of school grounds have no seatbelts.

He was also highly critical of the measure to remove the 'school-run' contract from local firm Derrick Ball Coach Hire, whose fleet of vehicles all have seatbelts, and claimed: "It should be safety first, money saving second."

But Marie Rimmer responded: "The contract was awarded to ensure that the council tax payers of St Helens get the best value for their money whilst fully meeting safety obligations."

According to the council the transfer of the contract followed the most stringent of assessments and the Scrutiny Commission, which is chaired by the leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Brian Spencer, raised no safety concerns.

They also stated that local schools are perfectly within their rights to opt out of the contract if they wish.

Marie Rimmer added: "I am saddened that a councillor would conduct his business through a local paper rather than debate it in the Town Hall as his colleagues do. As a consequence many people have been unnecessarily worried by his comments."