Passenger Clair Johnson-Word was ordered off a bus after offering the driver 30p in coppers.

When she refused to get off, the driver called the police. Other passengers watched in amazement as she was ushered back on to the street.

Now Clair plans legal action against bus firm Stagecoach because she claims she was humiliated in front of other passengers.

Clair, 35, caught the bus to Oxford in the High Street in her home village of Eynsham. For the return fare of £1.95, she offered the driver a pound coin, 65p in silver and 30p in coppers.

But the driver told her he would only accept 20p in coppers. Then he spoke to his supervisor and called the police before stopping in the next lay-by, where he ordered her off, despite protests from other passengers. She said: "I can't believe this driver called the police simply because I had ten pence too many coppers in my change. I am black and I am wondering if my colour had anything to do with it.

These drivers are supposed to be helping people and carrying out a service for their customers instead of wasting police time.

"I have contacted Stagecoach, who have offered me a complaint form, but that is not good enough. Everyone else watched me being forced off the bus and I felt completely humiliated. I am now consulting my solicitor to see if I can take some sort of legal action."

Clair said while the dispute was taking place, the other passengers trooped off the bus and caught another one. The driver of the original bus then travelled to Oxford with no-one on board. She added: "The police took the driver's side and I was ordered off the bus.

"I was the only one at the bus-stop, so it was not as if I was holding up a long queue.

"The older drivers are always courteous and pleasant but some of the younger ones are not. I think this particular driver should be ashamed of the way he has behaved."

Ms Johnson-Word recently had a short story published which is based on a dream her mother had about Princess Diana. It is entitled Reflection.

A Stagecoach spokesman said: "Stagecoach Oxford carries more than half a million people each week who pay for their fares in all denominations of coinage. "No-one likes receiving coppers in their change and obviously the situation is similar the other way round.

"Obviously this situation got out of hand and our driver's behaviour was far from acceptable. I can only apologise to all the customers on the bus - especially the lady concerned - for the inconvenience caused and hope it doesn't happen again."

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