Government ministers are under pressure to intervene in a dispute over transport arrangements for a new special educational needs school.

Crawley's Labour MP, Laura Moffatt, has asked the Government to force West Sussex County Council to make transport provisions for pupils at Manor Green School in Crawley.

She said: "It is proving to be one of the most wonderful innovations for parents and children in my area.

"But parents in my area who are trying to get three or four children to this fantastic new school are finding enormous difficulties in their path."

But Beverley Hughes, the children's minister, said the issue should be resolved without Whitehall's interference.

She said: "It is for local authorities, in discussion with parents, to decide such issues.

"Ministers are often berated for involving themselves too closely and for wanting to take local decisions yet sometimes when local authorities make decisions that are not fully supported, there are calls for ministers to intervene.

"I am certainly happy to discuss the matter with her but at the end of the day the decision has to be for the locality."