TAUNTON and Wellington's MP Gideon Amos has visited two villages in his constituency which are blighted by flooding issues.

Mr Amos was finding out more about the issue which means particular problems for families in Creech St Michael and Ruishton trying to get their children to school.

Flooding regularly makes Lipe Lane, near Ruishton Village Hall, and Hyde Lane at Creech impassable.

As a result, children are faced with massive detours and being late for lessons.

Mr Amos said: “It’s good to meet and listen to local people from the villages, together we walked the route from Creech to Monkton Wood Academy and back - 40 minutes each way – it really brought home how students are already expected to walk up to four miles a day on muddy paths.

“It's not really fair when that route is then blocked by poor drainage.

“And for those furthest away, we really need to see the temporary school bus made permanent.”

Mr Amos was joined by Cllr Ross Henley, Lib Dem member of Somerset Council whose ward includes Ruishton.

Cllr Henley added: "It's great that my LibDem colleagues on the council restored the Ruishton school bus after it was cancelled some time ago.

“But, at present, this will only run until Easter – we want it restored to run indefinitely.

“Having visited again with Gideon, I will be taking the message back to council officers.

“Gideon and I completely support local parents who need this school bus to continue".

The MP said he was first made aware of the flooding issues last year and will carry on working to see them resolved.

He said afterwards: “Every time there’s heavy rain – and we’ve had a lot of it this winter – there are real problems for local residents.

“Children struggle to get to and from school and it’s the same story for people who work in Taunton or Bridgwater.

“Having raised this with colleagues responsible for transport on Somerset Council, I was pleased to see on my visit that drains have now been marked up for attention.

“But we need a longer-term solution and I have followed up by contacting the Parish Councils involved to discuss how I can help further.

“For children at Ruishton, which is nearly an hour's walk from the school, it is essential the school bus continues and I will be pressing the council to do just that".