COACH firm boss Shirley Shore is negotiating an obstacle course to deliver children safely to their school in Somerford.

It's been created by a blend of congestion, traffic calming, new parking restrictions... and bureaucracy.

Shirley and her husband Trevor run the Shoreline travel firm, which operates a contract with Dorset County Council to provide transport for pupils at St Joseph's Catholic primary school.

With Shirley herself at the wheel, the 51-seater coach picks up pupils from Iford, Jumpers, Fairmile, Christchurch, Burton and Somerford en route to the school in Dorset Road.

But traffic calming measures imposed by Christchurch council last year and increased congestion from parked cars have made it awkward for Shirley to navigate the Somerford estate with the 40-foot vehicle.

And the new highway regime included extra parking restrictions which make it impossible for Shirley to drop off or pick up children from outside the school gates without risking a fine for stopping on double yellow lines.

Instead, Shirley has to park at a bus stop 50 yards away and shepherd the children to the school gates herself.

She wanted to swap the coach for a double-decker bus which would be shorter and with a tighter turning circle to make it easier to negotiate the congested roads around the school - but after a trial run, county transport officials raised concerns over lack of seat belts and supervision.

"We saw the double-decker as a solution and it was very popular with Trevor driving and me as the courier. It made life a lot easier," said Shirley, who is now negotiating with county officials.

Dorset County Council principal education transport co-ordinator Terry Spracklen said: "We are talking to Shoreline about how they fulfil the terms of their contract with us.

"The issues involve the need to supply a vehicle with seatbelts, as per their contract; capacity and manoeuvrability."

He added: "While we are discussing the future provision, we have asked Shoreline to continue using the coach and we are sending someone out to their depot to have a look at the double decker they are proposing to use."