CHILDREN have been late for school on a daily basis due to bus delays caused by the 40-week closure of the road through Radcliffe town centre.

Residents have regularly complained of traffic chaos since Church Street West was shut in July .

The closure has seen traffic diverted through Blackburn Street and Spring Lane, causing gridlock and 45-minute delays at rush hour.

A number of bus routes have been affected and 40 children who board the Y78 to Bury Church High in Haslam Brow are frequently arriving around 15 minutes late.

Neil Chapman, from Bradley Fold, is worried about the amount of late marks his 11-year-old daughter Savannah Chapman, a year seven pupil, is receiving.

Mr Chapman, who owns Urban Locks in Blackburn Street, said: “Savannah could have 100 late marks by the time these works finish, which will be stuck on her record her whole life.

“When colleges look back on her attendance they are not going to know it was due to these roadworks – they will just see that she wasn’t punctual for school.

“These horrendous delays are making kids upset before they even walk into school.

“This simply can’t go on until April – if they are on the school bus, they are on time.”

The Y78 is due to arrive at Bury Church at 8.28am before school begins at 8.40am.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have already made changes to the service so it now leaves seven minutes earlier.

Howard Hartley, TfGM’s head of bus, said: “By running morning services earlier we have addressed the problem in the main.

“Unfortunately, the Y78 continues to experience delays and we are working with bus operator First to resolve the problem as soon as possible.”

Steve Clark, pastoral co-ordinator at Bury CE High, said children were regularly missing assemblies and sometimes also the start of lessons.

He said: “We are in discussions with TfGM over bringing the times forward still further and we are hopeful this will happen in the very near future."

“Unfortunately, the children have to be given late marks if they arrive at school after the registration because that is a legal requirement, but a note is added to the register to make it clear they were on the school bus.

Mr Clark said the 712 service which brings children through Radcliffe from Kearsley, Stoneclough and Outwood had not been affected.