Stagecoach chiefs have ordered safety checks on their new buses after one of their drivers had to halt a service and call for a new bus when he had problems with the steering.

The driver of the 4.10pm Stagecoach service between Oxford and Witney on Tuesday, battled to keep the Stagecoach number 100 bus on the road, eventually steering the double-decker off the B4044, into the village of Farmoor.

Passengers waited while the visibly shaken driver called Stagecoach Oxford and demanded another bus be brought in for the remainder of the journey.

A middle-aged female passenger from Witney, who did not wish to be named, said: "The driver was really struggling with the coach. It was absolutely dreadful.

"You know buses can tip over and you think of what could have happened - it could have been carnage."

"He was really shaken up after he pulled up on to the grass. He phoned up the company and said he was not prepared to drive it on."

Alex Carter, managing director of Stagecoach Oxford, which provides bus services across Oxfordshire, said the driver was experiencing problems because of vibrations coming up through the steering wheel.

He said the company was looking at the bus to check for faults. He said other buses bought at the same time would also be checked. They are all less than a year old.

Mr Carter said: "The matter is now being investigated and the vehicle examined. We want to investigate to ensure we can correct the problem if there is one."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.