AN INVESTIGATION is under way into how a thief managed to steal a double decker bus and go on a “joyride” across Hampshire.

The bus was taken from the Xelabus depot in Eastleigh and found dumped in Nursling.

Police said it had not been reported stolen and it appears the company only became aware that the bus was missing when they were contacted by the police.

The bus, a Volvo Olympian, was taken between midday on Saturday when it was last seen and 10.28am on Monday when a member of the public reported it to the police because they thought it had broken down and was poorly parked.

Xelabus, an independent bus operator which operates in the Eastleigh and Southampton area, owns the bus which is white with Itchen College written on it. It was driven away from company’s depot in Chickenhall Lane.

The bus has now been recovered from where it was abandoned on Upton Lane, in Nursling. It only has minor damage as a result of what happened.

Police were unable to give any further details as they are still conducting enquiries about how the person responsible entered the depot, got into the bus and managed to start it.

A spokesman said that the bus company believed whoever drove it must have knowledge of driving buses as the handbrake is different to a normal vehicle.

Xelabus managing director Philip Blair did not want to comment at this stage about the circumstances around how the bus was taken, but said they would be looking at CCTV and working with the police to identify when the bus left the premises.

He added: “This only came to light in the last 24 hours.

“All we know at the moment is a vehicle was removed from our premises, we have no knowledge of what it was doing.”

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call Romsey Police on 101.