A “FURIOUS” mum has slammed a bus service because it fails to take her children to school and return them on time.

“Furious” Laura Thomas, of St Giles Close, Maldon, has hit out at First after claiming the 31X to Ormiston Rivers Academy is rarely on time.

The stay at home mother-of-four relocated from Southminster to Maldon a year ago but wanted to keep two of her children at the Burnham school with their friends.

Mrs Thomas, who feels “let down”, has complained seven times in the last three months about lateness and staff rudeness, but has not had a response, she claims.

She said: “I am absolutely fuming – how dare they?

“My kids have had to wait up to 45 minutes in the cold after school for the bus to show up and it’s just not on."

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

                                        Laura Thomas at the bus stop close to her house

She added: “They get on and off at the Spital Road stop and by the Queen Victoria pub and are always on time.

“I couldn’t tell you how often the bus has been late because it happens all the time and I’m sick of it.

“I have called First seven times since my children have been back at school since September.”

The 31X starts at Burnham before travelling to Maldon, Danbury then Chelmsford.

First Buses declined to comment.