Scotland fans hire US school buses to dodge World Cup transport costs

A group of Scotland fans have come up with a novel way to avoid rising transport costs at this summer's World Cup in the US - by hiring a fleet school buses to take them to the stadium.

The national squad play their first game of the tournament in Foxborough - but it was revealed fans would be charged $80 (£60) for a train and $90 (£67) for a bus from Boston to the stadium.

Local organisers and Fifa have been criticised, with the transport costs three times the normal price for the journey.

Hundreds of fans, who are basing themselves 50 miles (80km) from Boston - and closer to Foxborough - in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, decided to make their own arrangements.

"We came up with the idea of 'what about these school buses?" said Scotland fan, Davy Hood from Balloch.

"We thought maybe if the schools are off, the buses will be sitting idle.

"We got in touch with a couple of companies who came back with prices that suited us."

Davy is one of a number of fans staying in Providence, who have been trying to save travelling fans some cash.

They secured a total of 20 buses at a cost of $38 per fan and have even managed to get the police involved in the convoy.

"We got in touch with the local police and they have agreed to provide an escort out of the city, up to the motorway," Davy added.

Given the buses are built for children though, there is one obvious issue.

"Yeah it's the leg room - I'm small so I'm fine but if you're over 5'8", you might get sore legs!"

Scotland open their World Cup campaign in Foxborough with a game against Haiti on 14 June.

Steve Clarke's side's second match is in the same stadium six days later, against Morocco.

Organisers in Miami have confirmed fans with a ticket for the final group match against Brazil will be offered free bus travel to the Hard Rock Stadium.