The Commons Transport Committee has reccomended that the Government take a more strategic look at school transport with a move toward walking, cycling and American-style yellow school buses.

Currently 30% of children go to school by cars and currently only some areas provide free transport- within a 3 mile radius of the school.

The committee said the restriction should be reviewed and it criticised the Government for rejecting the extension to children of concessionary fares currently available to pensioners and disabled travellers.

Committee chairman Louise Ellman said: ''Young people deserve safe and affordable travel to education, leisure and employment.

"The journeys people make when young will influence their preferences and habits in adulthood.

"Both the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Transport urgently need to identify how they are going to ensure children and young adults are not denied opportunities because public transport is either inadequate or too costly."

The DfT said it would consider the recommendations over the next two months "in detail" before responding to Parliament.