FURIOUS parents have criticised the council for taking four days to clear up glass shards from a smashed bus shelter outside a school.

Mother-of-two Karla Chambers said pupils at Ash Hill School, Micklefield Road, High Wycombe, could have had a serious accident as they walked on the broken glass to get to their lessons.

Mrs Chambers, of Melbourne Road, High Wycombe, whose children attend the school, said: "I couldn't believe how long they took to clean it up. It's so dangerous and should have been cleared up straight away."

She said the bus shelter, the responsibility of Buckinghamshire County Council, was smashed on June 20 and cleared up four days later.

Another mum, Lisa Harris, of Hennerton Way, High Wycombe, added: "They (the council) take their time and don't appreciate that a serious accident could happen.

"Even now someone has been out to clear it up, there are still glass bits all around the kerb. It's a disgrace."

Richard Burton, county council spokesman, said the council was not told of the incident until Tuesday.

He said the council relies on residents to report any damage and that the maintenance of bus shelters is carried out by council contractors.

He said: "As soon as it was reported, the contractors went to clean up the glass but we don't know of any hazard zones if nobody tells us. We expect the contractors to meet the highest standards and to eliminate all public risk."

District councillor Clare Martens (Labour, Marsh and Micklefield), said: "This sort of vandalism ends up costing us all money. It is up to us all to work together to make sure these acts are reported. They should have a hotline number on all shelters so that people can report any problems."