PANIC-STRICKEN Royal Grammar School pupils were moments from missing exams when a bus company said it could not continue taking students to classes, throwing timetables into confusion.

Students in High Wycombe were left standing at bus stops when Abbey Coaches failed to operate services two weeks ago.

Youngsters were forced to flag down taxis or call parents in order to make a last-minute dash for the exam hall at the Amersham Hill school.

Bill Potts, of Deeds Grove, whose 12-year-old grandson arrived at school by taxi, said some pupils were just minutes from being barred from exams.

He said: "Apparently the first some boys knew about it was when they were handed revised timetables as they stepped onto the bus."

Buckinghamshire County Council had notice over half-term that Desborough Road-based firm Abbey Coaches was "unable to fulfil its contractural obligations."

The news caused chaos and county council staff worked to ensure that as many services as possible were covered.

Helen Halfpenny, group manager for passenger transport, said: "This left us with 18 school contracts and several commercial services to cover in very short notice. We had extra members of staff working to minimise scheduling problems. Arriva has undertaken the contract."

Abbey Coaches was unavailable for comment.