She said there would be no services over the weekend but the transport authority was working to ensure that school bus services affected by Maytree's action would operate on Monday in time for the new school term.

BBC: 'Tough ask' to replace axed Maytree Travel buses

In an editorial in the same journal, Dr John Baron, of Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire, said short-term studies appeared to suggest there was no effect from high dietary fibre intake on bowel cancer risk.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Fibre cancer benefits questioned

Getting the 1.8 million children back to school in time for the new term is one of the biggest operations the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has ever undertaken.

BBC: Back to school in Afghanistan

Bus routes have been diverted for the foreseeable future and letters are going out to families informing them of school transport arrangements in time for the start of the new term.

BBC: The landslide in Ystalyfera

Students will be sent to nearby schools for the rest of term before the new school, on fields at Abbey Community Primary School, opens in early 2013.

BBC: Catherine Junior School on fire

Last week, authorities in Bihar state ordered the closure of all government-run and private schools until 14 January - postponing the new school term by a week.

BBC: India cold snap kills hundreds