A BUS passenger who expected a quiet day's shopping in Pontypool instead found herself driven to a police station and allegedly accused of fraud because she didn't have change for her ticket.

Vivienne Thomas, 58, was travelling from her home in Blaenavon to Pontypool on Saturday on and wanted a £5.50 explorer ticket which would allow her to travel on any Stagecoach bus for a day.

But she only had a ten pound note, and the driver of the 11am number 30 Blaenavon bus didn't have change.

Instead of accepting her offer to get change in Pontypool, Mrs Thomas said the driver accused her of fraud and drove her to Pontypool police station.

Mrs Thomas, who runs the Cambrian Inn in Blaenavon with her partner, said: "I felt the driver was being absolutely obnoxious, he just went off on one.

"He said I was defrauding Stagecoach. I knew I had done nothing wrong.

"I was really incensed. It was embarrassing in front of the other passengers."

The pair went into Pontypool police station, leaving the bus with around ten passengers sat outside waiting, but bemused police officers told them it was a civil matter.

Mrs Thomas said the bus driver then kept her £10 and told her to pick up her change at the Cwmbran depot, before returning to his route.

Mrs Thomas is demanding an apology from Stagecoach and said the company should retrain its drivers.

A Stagecoach spokesman said the company will contact Mrs Thomas directly to apologise and will return her change.

He said it is company policy to give change, but if this is not possible, drivers are advised not to take any money but issue a single ticket, try to find change, and get the customer's name and address if this is not possible.

He said the driver didn't comply with the policy, and added: "Unfortunately the conversation got heated and there was a scene on the bus.

"The driver then took her to the police station. I'm not going to condone his actions in any way. The situation should have been handled differently."

The spokesman said there will now be a full investigation and the driver will be formally interviewed before Stagecoach decides what action to take.