Devon County Council intends to help fund double-decker buses on the busiest journeys of the 120 service between Kingswear, South Devon College and Churston Ferrers Grammar School, after pupils were repeatedly left behind because of capacity problems.

The council hopes to introduce the larger vehicles after the half-term holiday, subject to tree and vegetation clearance needed to make the route suitable.

The move follows complaints from parents and pupils after Stagecoach replaced double-decker buses with single-deck vehicles, leaving some passengers unable to board the morning service or return journey.

Vita Phillips, a parent, said her child had been left behind and families had been forced to make alternative arrangements.

“My own child has been left behind, and like many other parents, I’ve had to leave work and arrange alternative transport,” she posted online.

She said that on one occasion the bus had sounded its horn but failed to stop, adding that a complaint had been made.

“We’re paying nearly £1,000 a year for bus passes, only to find ourselves doubling up as unpaid taxi drivers. Petrol, ferry costs, lost working hours… perhaps Stagecoach should start offering us loyalty points!”

Parents have described the difficulties caused by overcrowding, with some pupils reporting anxiety about whether they will get a seat.

A petition calling for the return of a double-decker service received nearly 400 signatures in a month.

Speaking to the BBC, Felicity, a pupil at Churston Ferrers Grammar School, said: “I always find it really nerve-racking because I'm not sure whether I'll be able to get on the bus in time.”

Another pupil, Marigold, said the rush to board could become physical, particularly after school.

“Sometimes, especially after school, it's quite violent. Lots of people are pushing each other just to get a seat on the bus,” she said.

Marigold's mother, Ronnie, said more than a dozen children were often unable to board, and that the school had been sending a bus to collect pupils, while she had also made repeated trips to get children to school.

Churston Ferrers Grammar School headteacher James Simpson said children as young as 11 and 12 were being left frightened and upset by the prospect of waiting an hour in cold and wet weather.

Devon County Council said it was working with Stagecoach to address the problem.

A spokesperson for its Climate Change, Environment and Transport team said the council intended to fund the use of double-deckers on affected journeys, with the aim of introducing them after half-term.

The council said the route had operated with single-deck buses since September 2025 without reported capacity problems, but demand on particular journeys had increased during the current academic year.

Although the council has no statutory duty to provide transport for grammar school pupils, it said it was working with Stagecoach because the service also carries college students and other residents.

The detailed arrangements and costs are still being finalised, and the council could not yet confirm its anticipated financial contribution.

Stagecoach previously said a double-decker would provide additional capacity but would be largely underused outside the two peak journeys. It said the buses also operate on routes unsuitable for double-deckers, meaning vehicles would need to be changed twice daily, attributing to higher running costs.