Petrol rise stalls bus run

Thousands of Tennessee children have been given three days off school because of soaring oil prices.

School buses for the 3800 children in Rhea County are considered too costly to run.

"Rhea County is [54km] from end to end," said Harold McCawley, the school board chairman.

"It's just a huge saving on fuel."

Schools in the county spent NZ$22,130 on transport in March, compared with $12,000 in March 2005.