A BLIND schoolboy faces a 90-minute ride to a school 10 minutes away from home.

Keiran Spain, who also suffers from a form of autism, is being forced to travel to Riverside Primary School by minibus with 10 other children and just one escort. Cost-cutting at Medway Council means he cannot have his own taxi to collect him.

The pick-up time from Keiran's home in Hempstead Road means the nine-year-old faces a 90-minute journey to the school, which is just 10 minutes away from his home. The minibus service, which is provided by Medway Council, is used by another blind child and children aged three and four.

Keiran's condition means he often chews the buttons and zips on his clothes. His parents, Hayley and Keith, fear for his safety on the bus ride to the school in Wakeley Road, Rainham.

Hayley, 28, said: "I do not think that one escort is enough for a large group of young children and especially not when there are two blind children in the group."

Hayley, a full-time mum, has two other children to get to school and playschool each morning.

"Taking Keiran to school myself is not an option. I have other children and cannot be in two places at once. The council has offered me 40p petrol money for every mile I drive taking Keiran to school. They just don't seem to understand. If I could take Keiran every day, I would, but I am not physically capable.

"I would pay a taxi to take Keiran to school every day if I could afford it. My husband and I had no choice but to send our son to the school in Rainham because it has a special unit for visually impaired children. I feel as if I am in a box and no matter where I turn nobody can help me find my way out of the problem."

Hayley is currently taking all three children to school. She said: "Keiran doesn't understand why he can't go to school in the taxi and I can't give him a good reason. He has got it into his head that the taxi company do not want to take him to school anymore."

A spokesman for Medway Council said: "We appreciate the concerns of Mrs Spain and acknowledge that the journey time is too long for some children, including Keiran. In June, Medway Council's cabinet awarded contracts for public transport and home to school transport services taking account of the expected changes in transport needs with the new school year.

"We are now in discussions with the contractor for an additional vehicle so that journey times to Riverside Primary School are cut. There will also be two escorts on board. We expect these new arrangements to be in place by September 20."