All new school buses in Shropshire will be fitted with seat belts after councillors agreed to back a campaign by worried parents.

The move follows a campaign by parents and councillors to improve safety on school transport.

The full county council yesterday unanimously agreed that from next September all new contracts for the exclusive transport of pupils must use vehicles with seat belts fitted.

Councillor Ann Hartley, portfolio holder for children’s services, said: “We are very satisfied with our safety record but we are not complacent.”

The council transports 8,500 children to and from school each day, using a combination of buses, coaches, mini-buses and taxis.

Out of 150 large vehicles used, 23 are standard buses which don’t have to have seat belts.

The remaining 127 are coaches on which they are fitted.

Last September Shropshire mother Sue Williams, of Worthen, near Shrewsbury, raised safety fears at a meeting of the full council and the issue was later investigated at a joint meeting of scrutiny panels.

She said she became involved in the campaign after parents went on a 26-year-old bus with very low seats and no seat belts last summer.

Mrs Williams urged the cabinet to agree that vehicles used should be no older than 12 years and preferably fitted with three-point belts rather than lap belts.

She also called for the county council to make it compulsory that children were taught in school about the need to use belts and the importance good behaviour on journeys.

Fred Ratcliff, the authority’s transport coordination manager, said earlier this year that there was no evidence to suggest buses were unsafe.

He said buses travel slowly and, because they are generally stopping and starting, are safer than cars.

He said coaches are required by law to have seatbelts because they can go faster and are designed for longer journeys.

Mr Ratcliff said the operator had to meet road traffic regulations but can choose what to provide.