The Bolton News' readers have had their say on a recent dispute between one of the town's headteachers and rail operator, Northern.

Sam Gorse, headteacher at Turton High School in Bromley Cross, was publicly called upon by Northern to help them deal with fare-dodging students, last week.

Ms Gorse responded by telling The Bolton News she believes the problem could easily be solved by installing ticket barriers at the station nearby, Bromley Cross, and that it's not on the school to deal with the issue.

She said: "They have contacted us many times over the years and we’ve advised them many times to put barriers and ticket machines on the platforms.

"But they don’t want to take our advice.

"I think those measures would solve the issue."

However, Northern urged parents to buy existing discounted ‘educational season tickets’ - rather than give their child money for the fare.

Northern say some students decide to pocket the money and take the risk of travelling without a ticket.

One commenter on The Bolton News' Facebook, 'Bex Bro', said: "How about the train companies don’t profiteer from students the amount of times my daughter has had her trip cancelled because of strikes, late trains or simply trains that never turn up at all is ridiculous."

Stu Ris said: "I'd have more sympathy for Northern if they didn't rob us all blind and treat their customers with absolute contempt! I am sure these handful of students are the reason they can't run a service on time and in full."

Teacher, Helen Murphy, said: "Sounds like a Northern rail problem to me, I teach in Leicester and our students get buses.

"They pay when they get on or they don't travel. It is not any school's job to police transport they don't organise themselves."

Some readers believe parents should take greater responsibility.

Gayle O'Brien said: "Not really her [Ms Gorse's] problem.

"Maybe the parents should take responsibility for their children's behaviour in public."

Making a different point, Anne Dootson believes rail travel for schoolchildren should be "free".

Some commenters did back Northern in their plea to Ms Gorse.

James Parsons said: "If the students are that way inclined a barrier is not going to change the situation, a teen could easily jump one."

Diane Barritt added: "Start issuing fines, then behaviour may improve!"

Northern Rail said in response to Ms Gorse: "We manage hundreds of stations across the North of England, many of which are unstaffed and therefore not suitable for automated ticket gatelines.

"Everyone has a duty to buy a ticket before they board – and customers can do so via our app, website, ticket vending machines and ticket offices too.

“We have worked with Turton School in the past to inform parents that students can also buy their tickets in advance for individual terms or the full academic year – with a 50 per cent discount on their journey – via our Education Season Ticket scheme.”