A Gravesend coach company responsible for taking hundreds of pupils to and from school is being investigated over claims vehicles have been travelling without insurance.

Gravesend-based Manns Travel, which operates across the county and in London, is being investigated by police.

One of its coaches was taking Gravesend schoolchildren on a trip to Rochester when it was boarded by officers on March 7.

Youngsters were left stranded in a Medway coach park when the vehicle was taken off the road.

Abandoned youngsters were picked up by a replacement coach shortly afterwards.

One mother, who wished to remain anonymous, told News Shopper her 12-year-old daughter was left stranded.

Shesaid: "A lot of children were visibly upset.

"They ran to their parents like they had been in a disaster."

A police spokesman said enquiries were being made after officers received information about "suspected uninsured vehicles."

 

A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesman said replacement buses would now be used to take children to and from school.

He said: "Kent County Council was notified Manns and Owens Travel would not be operating any bus or coach services from the afternoon of Thursday, March 4.

"To ensure all passengers would be able to travel from that afternoon onwards, staff at the county council’s public transport department have made arrangements with other operators to provide replacement services in the interim.

"All schools affected have been kept informed and we expect that those interim replacement services will continue until the matter is resolved."

Manns Travel has a fleet of 20 vehicles including cars and minibuses, and services several schools in Gravesham.

The company have been contacted for a comment.