AN ANGRY dad has hit out at council chiefs after they stopped providing transport for his disabled daughter to get to college.

Gary Unsworth is incensed that Halton Council has terminated his daughter Susan's free transport because she has just had her 19th birthday.

Gary claims that the council officials didn't even tell him that the offer of free transport would end.

He said: "When the term started again we were both waiting outside the house for Susan's taxi and it didn't turn up, the council didn't even inform us that this would happen."

Susan from Westfield Road in Runcorn suffers from Muscular Dystrophy and uses a wheelchair. She attends Warrington College where she is studying a Skills for Life course.

A free taxi provided by Halton Council has picked her up from her house since the course began last year, and taken her to and from college.

Gary added: "There is no way that we can get Susan to college and it is such a shame because she loves it.

"I know for a fact that a half-full mini bus picks up students from the end of the road, so I don't know why they can't pick Susan up as well."

A spokesperson for Halton Council said: "Susan's case was last reviewed on her leaving Chestnut Lodge School in Widnes in June 1998. Susan's family decided that she would attend a further education course in Warrington and an agreement was subsequently made to provide her with transport, on the basis of that course lasting two years.

"The council's policy in these cases is to provide transport until the end of the academic year following the student's 18th birthday, at which point the case transfers to adult services. This policy follows national Government guidelines.

"Transport provision for adults is subject to an assessment of need from Social Services. Normally, transport will not be provided outside of the borough. In this case, Susan's parents were offered an assessment of need but that offer was declined."