A YOUNG mum says she's been left angry and traumatised after a bus driver allegedly locked her in a bus and told her she should wash and change before using public transport.

Mother of two, Kate Bircher, 25, of Cinderford, spends the day working as groom at a livery stables in Mitcheldean.

She said: "I get a lift to work, but take the bus back to Cinderford. I was in the front of the bus when it stopped but was asked to wait. I thought the driver meant everybody, but it was just me. He then shut the doors and said: 'in the interests of other passengers, when you go horseriding can you get changed before using public transport.'"

"I felt really embarrassed and just said 'fine, can you let me off now?'. I went to push the doors, but he stood up and deliberately pushed the button to lock them. He said he wanted to finish what he had to say. That's when I really panicked."

When the doors were opened, Kate says she got off and ran home.

"I was quite upset and traumatised, as well as feeling angry. I thought what he said was really inappropriate. I work all day with horses, what am I supposed to do - wash in the stables, hose myself down in the yard?"

Husband, Steve Bircher, said: "I was at home when Kate came through the door and burst into tears. This driver has frightened my wife, who is very small, not aggressive and not confrontational. I'm thoroughly disgusted, you can't just lock people on a bus, especially a young woman on her own. It's completely out of order. I honestly believe this driver should be sacked."

Kate's mother in law, Pam Bircher, also of Cinderford, said: "It is absolutely diabolical. This is public transport, you don't expect to be treated like that. Kate's a young woman and she was shut in the bus by a man, absolutely petrified. She's now too frightened to use the bus and is relying on lifts to get home."

The bus is one of a number of routes operated by James Bevan Coaches based in Lydney.

A spokesman for the company said: "We spoke to the driver just after the incident. He said he closed the doors to save any embarrassment. But, what he did was wrong, he shouldn't have shut the doors and we've told him that. He should have come to us, rather than handle it directly and he has been disciplined internally." The spokesman also pointed out: "The doors of the bus won't lock, they can't be locked from the cab, and there is an emergency button above the doors which will open them."