DORSET County Council has admitted ‘significant failings’ led to the school bus chaos at the beginning of term.

The revelations were made at a packed meeting of the audit and scrutiny committee at County Hall in Dorchester.

The school transport system descended into chaos after the council raised the cost of a concessionary ticket to £400 and changed operators.

Children were left at the side of the road as vehicles failed to turn up and school buses arrived and left schools with a handful of pupils on board while public transport struggled to cope with the influx of youngsters.

The report said that significant safeguarding issues had occurred including a four-year-old being left in the care of two nine-year-olds.

The county council admitted that no detailed route maps or passenger lists were given to Damory, which made it impossible for drivers to identify who should be getting on their bus.