A BUS company has confirmed it is working with Tavistock College to address pupils' behaviour after complaints from passengers on one route.

There have been reports of pupils shouting and fighting on the No 83 service from Plymouth to Tavistock, and on one occasion the bus driver had to stop the bus to break up a fight.

The complaints have also raised safety concerns because the behaviour is distracting for the driver.

FirstGroup, which runs the service, said in a statement this week: 'We can confirm that we have had some issues on Service 83 regarding the behaviour of some students.  

'We are working with the college to address these issues for the benefit of all other passengers and our drivers.'

The college's extended services manager, Hilary Lumley, said: 'Unfortunately, poor behaviour from a minority of students on public transport is an issue all schools have and Tavistock is no exception.'

She said a meeting had been held between senior staff at the college and the bus company to plan a number of actions to improve things.

'We have sent a letter to parents listing the strategies and hope to work collaboratively with them, as well as the bus companies and students.'

The college is seeking to ease the number of students travelling on any one bus by asking older ones to catch a later service and CCTV has also been installed on the No 83, half funded by the college.

Sixth formers are being recruited to act as bus representatives on all buses as part of their community service work.