Parents have launched a campaign to get an axed rail service that transported their children to school reinstated.

Pupils of Whitgift School in South Croydon arrived at stations across Wandsworth to return to school following the Christmas break, but found Southern had scrapped their usual train without warning. 

More than 60 boys previously caught the train from Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Common and Balham direct to South Croydon before making a short to walk to their school.

But the company's decision to terminate the train, which leaves London Victoria at 7.20am, at East Croydon means there is no direct train which will get them to school on time.

More than 320 people have signed a petition calling for the service to be reinstated. 

Gemma Ronte, whose 13-year-old son Matt is in Year 8 at Whitgift, said asking dozens of unaccompanied schoolchildren to change trains at East Croydon during rush hour was "an accident waiting to happen."

Southern has apologised for the "frustration" and said it would take parents' concerns into account in its next timetable review.

A spokesman added: "Our timetables are reviewed and changed twice a year, during the months of May and December.

"The changes are made taking into consideration a number of factors, including performance statistics, passenger loading data, carriage demand and connection support information among other things."