A bus company has apologised to a pensioner after he was locked alone in a bus after his concessionary bus pass failed to register on the vehicle's ticket scanner.

Tony Kimber, 79, and from Great Yarmouth, had tried to get on the no 8 bus run by First Eastern Counties at the bus stop in Southtown Road so he could visit his wife as she was being treated at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston.

Mr Kimber, from Mill Road, Cobholm, tried to use his Norfolk concessionary travel scheme card, but it failed to register on the bus's scanner, leading to the driver asking Mr Kimber to get off the vehicle or pay.

During the dispute the driver then told other passengers to get off the bus and he then locked Mr Kimber in the bus on his own and called the police.

During the incident Mr Kimber, who has had heart problems, started to feel chest pains before he finally left the bus.

After the situation, which saw no police action, was over Mr Kimber then managed to get another bus to Gorleston to see his wife in hospital and used his concessionary card without any hitch to and from the James Paget.

Mr Kimber said: 'I can not believe I was treated like that. What are things coming to?

'I was left on a bus with the windows closed and I then started having chest pains.

'It should never have happened.

'And I don't want it to happen to other passengers again. I went to the bus depot to make a complaint to make sure this does not happen again.'

First Eastern Counties has apologised to Mr Kimber via a letter about July 9's incident and the driver's manner after an investigation was launched by the company.

Alvin Parker, depot manager for First Eastern Counties in Great Yarmouth, said: 'We have concluded our investigation into the alleged incident that was bought to our attention by Mr Kimber and we have written to him offering an apology for the way our driver handled the situation at the time.

'We take all matters seriously when a customer is not happy with the service that has been provided or brings a matter to our attention that needs resolving.

'I hope the incident Mr Kimber experienced has not deterred him from travelling with us again and we look forward to welcoming him on our buses in the future.'