A furious parent has slammed a council’s decision to axe his children’s free bus passes and instead make them ‘wade through mud’ on a three-mile walk to school.

Father-of-two Joe Massey was left feeling ‘frustrated’ after Surrey County Council cut the passes for his two sons and offered a walking route instead from South Nutfield to Carrington School in Redhill.

Free bus access is normally provided to those who live more than three miles (4.8km) from their chosen school, but the council says it is no longer in a position to offer this ‘amidst a set of challenging financial circumstances’.

As an alternative, local officials have suggested the two boys put on some suitable footwear and take on the walk to school which sees them trek across farmer’s fields – which are prone to flooding – and over an unguarded railway line.

But after attempting the ‘unsuitable’ hour-long walk, Mr Massey claimed the route was ‘just plain dangerous’.

He told the BBC: ‘There is no way in hell you’d send your child on that route.’

Mr Massey, who has one son in year seven and another in year ten, said the decision to cut their bus passes had left him feeling ‘let down’.

He added: ‘We just feel let down and the option they’ve given us is just unbelievable.’

Council bosses say an annual bus pass on a public service costs the council £881 per year for each student and Mr Massey’s sons were no longer eligible.

Clare Curran, SCC’s cabinet member for children, families and lifelong learning, said: ‘Amidst a set of challenging financial circumstances, the council is not in the position to continue to pay for transport for families due to a safe route being established.’

She also stressed that family was able to appeal the decision.