A DRIVER threw a group of pupils from a Bolton school off his bus because they were creating havoc, it has been claimed.

Passengers on the 507 Harwood to Bolton service watched in horror as a group of children from Withins School caused chaos upstairs while on their way to school yesterday.

The pupils from the school in Newby Road, Breightmet, are alleged to have ripped seats from their metal frames and thrown them around, as well as opening a fire exit while the bus was moving.

The driver of the First Manchester bus stopped twice to ask the teenagers to put the seats back and close the fire exit but each time the driver was met with abuse.

Passenger Pat Darbyshire, of Tonge Moor, who was taking her two daughters to school, said: "As soon as they got on the bus they started being abusive towards the driver for no apparent reason.

"They then started to rip up seats and throw them around. The driver had to stop at Bradshaw and tell them to stop.

"The driver continued on until he had to stop again because they had opened a fire exit door. He shouted up to them to shut the door but no one would so he had to walk up the stairs, past these people, and close it himself."

The pupils were told by the driver to get off the bus at Stitch-Mi-Lane and walk the rest of the way to school.

First Manchester spokesman David Doolan said: "An incident did occur on the 507 bus involving pupils from Withins School although we would like to stress that it was only a small minority of children that were involved.

"The main priority for us is the safety of passengers. If bus drivers are being distracted by incidents like this, instead concentrating on driving our passengers safely, there are going to be accidents."

He added: "We have an excellent relationship with Withins School and we are working together with them to try to solve the problem."

Staff at the school refused to comment.

It is not the first time that Withins pupils have been accused of causing problems on the 507 service.

In January, police were called after a group of pupils had allegedly pushed their way on to the bus without paying.