Parents threatened over girl's 20-yard walk

Council bosses in the UK threatened to report a father for allowing his daughter to walk on her own to a bus stop just 20 yards from their home, it was revealed today.

Mark McCullough was told if he continued to allow Isabelle, aged seven, to walk to and from the bus stop alone, Lincolnshire County Council would report the situation as a “child protection issue”.

The angry father, from Glentham, Lincolnshire, said either he or his partner are always at home when Isabelle leaves or returns from school.

But a letter from the county council said her bus driver felt obliged to help the youngster cross the road at the end of the day when she is dropped off.

It said unless there was a change in arrangements, the couple would face action.

But today the council said that on reflection the letter might have been too strongly worded.

Mr McCullough told the Lincolnshire Echo: “I am happy for Isabelle to walk from home to the end of the road and, if necessary, cross a country lane and walk home.

“I’m not going to wrap them up in cotton wool.”