CRISIS-hit bus company Diamond has backtracked on scrapping monthly child tickets - following a huge public outcry.

The Advertiser reported last month parents in Redditch blasted Diamond Buses for removing the monthly child ticket for children, with many saying they were shocked and disgusted.

Diamond Buses removed the monthly child ticket for children in Redditch, saying it made the controversial decision due to "very high fraudulent use".

Indignant parents called the move an "abomination" and said it was completely unfair, considering the service it provides is "substandard at best".

Dan Holland said: "It’s going to cost even more for struggling families to send their kids on the buses.

"The issue here is they are claiming there is fraudulent use of monthly passes so they are suspending their sale. This I understand but they are not reducing the cost of weekly passes to compensate.

"Why can’t they bring back photo bus passes that would solve the issue straight away."

Another parent said it increased the cost to parents whose children rely on the buses by more than £20 per month.

At the time a spokesman from Diamond said it was reviewing the move and was involving local schools and the police to try to curtail the issue.

Posting on facebook earlier this week it said: "Redditch Child Month tickets will be re-introduced on board services from Tuesday 4 February. They will be available from the driver priced at £31.

“The Redditch Child Month will be currently available on-bus only as we continue to monitor the situation with fraudulent M-tickets."