Mick McLelland, of Linton Drive, will stand as an Independent Labour candidate in the Ollerton ward –– which is currently held by Labour councillor Stella Smedley –– in next spring's Nottinghamshire County Council elections.

He has been a Labour Party member for around 25 years, but is unhappy that the county council has brought in charges of up to £300 for pupils travelling to faith schools — so has torn up his membership card.

Mr McLelland, who has previously been a parish councillor for Boughton, told Chad: "There's some Catholic families who have got up to six children, so who can afford that? They are British citizens and pay their Council Tax.

"There are a lot of people unhappy about it and they have said they will vote for me. I have voted Labour all my life and been a member since the early 1980s. I just felt it was time to break away."

He said Mansfield's All Saints' School was the only secondary school for Catholic youngsters outside Nottingham, so many people had no option but to travel there.

The county council brought in charges for youngsters attending schools because of their faith last September, charging an annual fee of £250 for primary pupils and £300 for secondary pupils.

It said students who were receiving free transport at the time would continue to do so and a full consultation was held before the decision was made.

A spokesman added some pupils still qualified for free transport, such as those entitled to free meals, those whose parents got the maximum level of Working Tax Credit and no family would have to pay travel fees for more than two children.