A mother claims she is forced to spend her benefits on taxi fares to get two of her children with special needs to school because there is no free transport.

A free coach service used to take Kayleigh Manville, 14, and her brother Steven, 12, to Palatine School, two miles away from their home in Queen Street, Worthing.

But West Sussex County Council withdrew the service when it transferred the children to the new Oak Grove College, round the corner from their old school, last October.

The council will provide free school transport to special needs pupils living more than three miles away from school.

But their mother, Wendy Manville, 43, who also has learning difficulties and does not have a car, said it was impossible for her to walk them because she has restricted mobility due to a medical condition, often requiring a walking stick.

Her eight-year-old daughter Hannah, who also has learning difficulties, must be taken to Whitemead Elementary School in Dominion Road, which is in the opposite direction. Mrs Manville said: "I can't split myself in two."

Mrs Manville and her daughter Emma, 18, take turns taking Kayleigh and Steven - who cannot ride in a taxi unescorted - and Hannah to school. But Emma is job-hunting so she will be soon be unavailable.

Mrs Manville said: "It seems for the sake of moving them across the road they are no longer entitled to the free coach service.

"I get £205 in benefits a week and £100 of that is spent on getting them to school. Some days I haven't been able to take them because I can't afford it and now I've education welfare on my back because Kayleigh's refusing to go due to the disruption to her routine."

Worthing county councillor Peter Green outlined the case as an urgent item during last Wednesday's children's services select committee meeting and is frustrated nothing has been resolved yet.

Other problems have emerged since pupils aged over 11 were transferred from Palatine to Oak Grove. Jay Tugnutt, 13, suffers from cerebral palsy but was expected to walk two miles to school.

Coun Green called for a review to ensure there were no other families facing similar problems and for the Manville's case to be addressed - and Mrs Manville given a rebate on the taxi fares.

He said: "£100 a week is a hell of a drain on the Manvilles' resources. They have been living on the breadline.

"I've heard nothing back, which is frustrating when it's obvious to me this family needs help and it seems a clear-cut case."

A county council spokeswoman said: "Normal policy is to provide transport for pupils under eight who live more than two miles away from a school or over eight who live more than three miles away from a school.

"Special needs transport arrangements are under constant review. A review has taken place in this case and taking into account things such as age, ability and health issues, it was felt transport was no longer needed.

"There are many cases in schools of all kinds where parents meet the challenge of fulfilling their responsibility to ensure their children attend school.

"Mrs Manville has, however, presented additional information via her local county councillor and the case is currently being reviewed."