OVERCROWDING on a bus service in Herefordshire has led to passengers being turned away and caused students to be late for college.

Joanne Bennett, of Ross-on-Wye, said that overcrowding on the 33 bus service from the south Herefordshire town to Hereford has resulted in her son, a student at Hereford Sixth Form College, and other students being late and having to ask for lifts, putting families at an inconvenience.

The 33 service, provided by Stagecoach, runs from Gloucester to Hereford, with stops in Ross-on-Wye.

Mrs Bennett said the service is regularly overcrowded with passengers and on many occasions, her son has had to stand along with others on the top deck of the bus.

The issue of overcrowding on the service has ledto Stagecoach and Herefordshire Council agreeing to provide another bus to run at 7.35am from Ross-on-Wye to Hereford.

Mrs Bennett said: "Since my son started in September, every single day he's struggled to get a seat and the bus is crowded by people standing.

"He's quite often ended up being late to college, as he hasn't been able to get on the bus, because it's crowded.

"My husband and I work full time and long hours but have to drop everything to drive him into college, and trying to get into Hereford at nine in the morning is hellish."

She said the unreliability of the service was affecting several college students in Ross-on-Wye.

She said: "Every single one of them will be having to get lifts, which just adds to the existing traffic problems in Hereford, it's just not sustainable.

The cost of a college travel pass is £837 per year.

Mrs Bennett said for this cost she expected her son to be able to catch the bus to college, as the website said that general provision will be for one return journey at the start and end of the day, roughly 9am until 5pm.

She said: "If the majority of these passengers have paid for a pass, but then have to find another way into town, the impact is huge financially. This must impact workers as well as college students."

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council said: "Following discussions with Stagecoach, the council is pleased to confirm that from Monday October 4, a second bus will operate on the 7.35am journey from Ross-on-Wye to Hereford.

"Passenger numbers, and the need for a second bus will be kept under review on a weekly basis."