A controversial bus depot plan which Egremont residents feared would put children's lives at risk has been dropped.

Reays Coaches' application was unanimously rejected by Copeland planners in November, after Bookwell School headteacher Russell Hardy said it was "only going to be a matter of time" before there was a fatality.

It was set to return for a final decision at this month's meeting but has now been pulled.

However, the Wigton-based firm has submitted a plan to Allerdale Council, which would see a coach park built on land at Lillyhall, Workington.

They say this would remove traffic hold-ups, which "would come with a town centre location".

There was significant opposition to the Egremont scheme, planned for the former county council highways site on Baybarrow Road, despite council officers' recommending it should be approved.

Critics, including Egremont Town Council, said more buses travelling through the Orgill estate, with every route passing a school, would put children in danger.

Neil Ferguson, chair of Egremont Town Council, said: "As a council we welcome the decision to withdraw the application.

"Mainly due to the health and safety concerns regarding children. Whichever way the buses went they would pass a school.

"Orgill School and Bookwell in particular but the children at St Bridget's Catholic School would have had the same problem when walking home.

"The congestion would have been terrible.

"It's disappointing because we want businesses to thrive in Egremont but it was just in the wrong place."

The company's Workington application is for a change of use from a car storage area for a car sales business to a coach park, with associated staff/vehicle wash facilities and customer parking.

It would be based on land at Hallwood Road, Lillyhall Industrial Estate.

A supporting statement said: "Reays Coaches recently purchased the land, with a view to creating a new coach park, which will be within easy reach of the company’s customer base, and not subject to the traffic hold-ups that would come with a town centre location.

"It is intended that the coach park will be securely maintained, staffed and open 24 hours a day, to cater for coach tour arrivals and departures."

Parking areas would allow customers to leave their cars in a "safe environment" for the duration of their trip.

"This will help to reduce the company’s environmental impact, by having one pick-up/departure point, rather than a number spread over a large area," said the statement. A proposed building, for staff use, would have an office space, a meeting room and WC facilities.

Consultation on this application ends on January 2. Reays Coaches were contacted for comment but no one was available.