SCHOOL coaches across Britain are being put at risk by “unsustainable” fuel costs, operators warned today.

More than 600,000 children travel to school by coach every day, according to industry body the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).

But since the US and Israel’s illegal attack on Iran the cost to do so has rocketed, with diesel prices soaring from 108p a litre at the end of February to more than 140p today.

While the government has offered £100 million in support to bus operators in England to support them through the price shock, that cash has not been made available to coaches, leaving some operators considering withdrawing services.

Kent-based Chalkwell Coaches’ managing director Roland Eglington said he is analysing “which contracts are financially viable,” adding: “In terms of school transport, there’s a natural break when the summer holidays arrive. Most operators will be considering what work they do going forward.”

Spelling out the scale of the challenge, Martin MacPhail, director of MacPhails Coaches, which has run coach services in Scotland’s central belt since the 1920s, warned his firm needed to find “another £30,000” for every £100,000 it was previously spending on fuel.

“Most of us are stumbling on, bearing the onerous fuel price surge until the end of the school year,” he said.

“We’ll be having a look at it in the summer — we can’t continue at a loss.

“You have to make a decision on what’s viable.”

CPT chief executive Graham Vidler added: “Coach operators are struggling with a sudden and unsustainable spike in fuel costs.

“This is an exceptional situation and they should not simply be left to sink or swim on their own.

“The government needs to act now to ensure thousands of children continue to have the vital coach services they need to get them to school from September.”

A government spokesperson said: “We are determined to keep costs down as the war in Iran drives up global fuel prices and are working tirelessly with our international partners to find a permanent solution to this crisis.

“Government is already tackling rising costs — including a new national data collection so councils can benchmark spending, a bespoke funding formula to direct money where it is needed most, and creating better tools to improve routes serving schools.”