MORE American-style yellow school buses are to go on the road in West Yorkshire.

A further 60 yellow school buses will be put into operation this year after a £7.3m Government funding boost.

More than 100 primary and secondary schools will be served by the buses.

Travel bosses welcomed the new money.

Metro chairman Clr Stanley King said: "Our yellow buses are having a real impact at the schools where they have been introduced - and they are making a major contribution to school gate safety.

"Between 60% and 90% of children on them used to travel to school by car, which means our scheme is resulting in a lot fewer cars being on the road."

Drivers of the yellow buses, who are specially trained, have a list of all the pupils registered to travel so they know in advance who to expect at pick-up points.

If a child is not travelling due to sickness or holidays, parents are asked to telephone a special control room so the driver knows not to expect them.

Each pupil has their own high-backed padded seat with a seatbelt.

Eventually it is hoped that 300 schools will be served in a three-year phased project costing a total of £18.7m.

The buses have made a huge difference at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Hove Edge, Brighouse.

There, 91% of parents chose to use the bus to get their children to school.

Announcing the grant, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said: "It is important that we explore new options for reducing congestion on the school run.

"At ten to nine in the morning about one in five cars on the road is on the school run and we are all aware of the congestion this causes in the rush hour."