Angry parents clashed with county council representatives this week at a public meeting to discuss the proposed abolition of free home-to-school transport for faith schools in Hertfordshire.

The meeting, held at Hertswood School on Monday, was the scene of fresh confrontation over the plans to save £3.4 million over six years by ending free transport to 98 faith schools across the county from September next year.

Parents at the meeting, which was attended by county and borough councillors, teachers and religious leaders, accused the county council of rushing through the proposals and called the consultation exercise a sham'.

Councillor Frank Ward announced his intention to launch a multi-faith, non-party political campaign in opposition to the plans, which he labelled ludicrous'.

A meeting will be held to launch the campaign on Tuesday, May 23, at the Three Ways Community Centre in Arundel Drive, Borehamwood, starting at 7.30pm.

The council's plans have attracted criticism from the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. The Catholic Church runs 38 primary schools and nine secondary schools in Hertfordshire. In a letter to parents, he urged people to write to their county councillors voicing their concern.

He said: "Hertfordshire claims that as a result of this change in policy, all children will be treated equally. This will not be the case. In reality, it is the Catholic community which will be disadvantaged most by these proposals.

"Be assured that the Archdiocese of Westminster is making the strongest of representations on this matter to Hertfordshire County Council."

The public consultation on the proposals ends on June 9 and is available to view in full at the web site www.hertsdirect.org/faith schooltransport