Alex Carter, the managing director of Damory, said that that an initial investigation into the problems raised by parents concerning some of the school bus journeys has highlighted that many of the route briefs issued by the council’s transport department were provided very late and ambiguous.

“I believe that our managers and drivers have followed the journey instructions to the letter.

“If we were just replacing the same routes and services operated by last term’s contract holders then it would be different, but the problems are occurring on routes that have been changed this year.

“Trial runs before the start of the term went well but it is now obvious that we have been told to pick children up from different points than where parents expect their child to be.

“I’m confident that we can work closely with Dorset County Council to ensure that the few school services affected can be operated to the high standard we are providing on the other 90 per cent of journeys we gained in the April tender awards.”