A FURIOUS Bolton mum is demanding an inquiry after her 11-year-old son was left standing alone at a bus stop when a clipper card machine refused to accept his pre-paid card.

Linda York is angry that a bus driver only gave her son Carl two choices when he boarded a 911 bus home from Withins school - either get the card to work in the machine or pay the 29p fare!

As Carl, who has only been a pupil at the school for six weeks, did not have the money he had to get off the bus leaving him stranded two miles from his home in Exford Drive, Breightmet.

"Luckily a neighbour was passing and gave him a lift home," said Mrs York.

"He didn't have a clue which way to walk home. That was the frightening thing."

Mrs York says the bus driver told Carl that it was company policy to pay with cash if the pre-paid clipper card does not work but she believes some drivers are more considerate and tear the ticket stub off by hand if the machine does not accept it.

But she warns that other children may not be as fortunate as Carl who had someone coming to his rescue and is concerned for their safety especially with darker nights closing in.

A spokesman for GM Buses North, which operates the service said the driver should have also given Carl the option of having his clipper ticket cancelled by hand and being able to complete his journey.

He said that the driver concerned will be questioned about the incident.

And added that it "would appear to be a regretable incident for which we apologise."

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