Pensioner ordered off Bluestar bus in Totton

Jean Cannon, 85, hopped on the bus near her Totton home to visit her daughter, Sandra Cannon-Donowa, who lives just one mile away.

But what should have been an effortless journey turned into a tiring 90-minute walk, after the great-great-grandmother was told by the driver of the Bluestar vehicle to get off the bus, because she had forgotten her pass.

Jean, who suffered a stroke seven years ago and has since been fitted with a heart pacemaker, had left her bus pass and mobile phone at home, before accidentally locking herself out. It left her with no choice but to walk to her daughter’s house in Morpeth Avenue, where a spare key is kept.

The journey left her feeling dizzy and short of breath, and nursing swollen feet.

But Sandra, 67, believes the consequences could have been much worse. “She could have died,” she said. “I looked out the window and she was all over the place, leaning up against the car and struggling to breathe or to stay upright.

“She literally fell through the door and her heart was going like mad. I was so angry.

“It’s obvious that she’s old enough to have a bus pass. You would think they would use a bit of common sense.”

Jean, who also has six grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, said she showed the driver her disabled blue badge parking permit as an alternative, to prove her age and identity.

She said: “He just looked at it and said ‘no.’ I couldn’t believe it. I had changed my handbag before leaving the house and left everything behind, so I didn’t even have money with me to pay and the driver knew that.

“Surely he could have used some discretion?”

Jean and Sandra have made a complaint to Bluestar and demanded an apology, but are yet to hear back from the firm.

Bluestar bosses have now pledged to investigate.

A spokesman for the firm said that they would make “a full apology” to Mrs Cannon, and confirmed that an internal investigation would be held, so that customer service guidelines and procedures could be reviewed.