ANGRY passengers abused a Stagecoach driver and tried to force their way on to a bus in Basingstoke yesterday after their normal service failed to arrive.

The 8.05am No. 2 service from Brighton Hill did not run due to "operational difficulties" and a group of about 30 impatient passengers were left in the cold.

Their patience snapped when the next No. 2 bus arrived with standing room only at 8.35am outside the Brighton Hill shops.

Mark Anthony, of Carmichael Way, Brighton Hill, a 17-year-old BCOT student, was already on the 50-seater single-decker.

He said: "The bus was nearly full, and my friend Jamie Davey was sitting in the luggage rack.

"The driver told those waiting he could only take passengers going to the college or all the way to Chineham, and the rest would have to wait for a No. 1 bus.

"They went mad. People were pressing the emergency door release button on the outside and trying to force their way on.

"I thought there was going to be a real ruck. About 20 people were all having a go at the driver.

"It wasn't his fault. He shouldn't have to put up with that kind of treatment."

A Stagecoach Hampshire Bus boss praised the actions of the 58-year-old driver, who has been with the company for nearly two years, in helping to diffuse the situation.

Operations manager Nigel Deacon said: "The driver assessed the situation and offered to pick up passengers who had no alternative service.

"He asked the others to wait for the No. 1 bus which was eight minutes behind him."

Although Mr Deacon sympathised with the customers, he added: "This was a potentially very serious situation and breakdown in public order."