A GROUP of Christians used the power of prayer to try to keep a free school bus service on the road.

More than 150 churchgoers gathered in Hereford's High Town on Tuesday to ask the Lord for the subsidised buses to continue to run to the county's two faith high schools.

The public prayer meeting, which followed an earlier traffic protest by demonstrators, was organised after Herefordshire Council announced plans to either scrap the service or charge parents £100 a term for each of their children to catch the bus.

Councillors are expected to make their preferred choice today (Thursday) at a full cabinet meeting.

Neither of the proposals were welcomed by those praying in the city centre - the majority of whom wanted the old service maintained.

Ann-Marie Impey, a campaigner against the changes, defended the denominational transport service while explaining why church school students should continue to receive free buses.

"Parents at St Mary's High School and the Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School not only pay council tax but also make a payment to our churches, who in turn have given £10 million to faith schools during the past seven years.

"This essentially means we have saved the councils £10 million and if it cannot use that money to keep the subsidised transport service then maybe it could return it to the churches so we can start a bus system of our own."

The public prayer received approval from the Diocese of Hereford and the Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, who wrote to the council expressing his concern.

Ian Terry, director of education for the diocese, said: "We encourage everyone to pray that the best result about the provision of faith transport is achieved for rural Christians of limited means."

Earlier on Tuesday, more than 100 vehicles gathered outside the gates of St Mary's RC High School in Lugwardine to show the problems they believe will be created by bus service changes.

Traffic built up around the city as the religious protestors made the journey many say will become a twice-a-day trip if the bus service is scrapped.