A PENSIONER stood her ground during a row with a bus driver who failed to let down the access ramp for mums with pushchairs.

Patsy Last, 73, was catching the bus from outside Colchester Town Hall.

When she climbed aboard the number 65 First bus, she noticed the driver failed to lower the ramp for two women with pushchairs who were getting on the bus.

Mrs Last confronted the driver about it but claims the driver got out of his seat and demanded she get off the bus.

Mrs Last, of Colchester, said: “I was getting the bus round to Wilkinson’s.

“The bus came to a halt and there were two young women in front of me with pushchairs.

“The driver didn’t lower the platform, which I imagine they have to do. I have back problems myself. I told him he hadn’t been very helpful to the ladies.”

Mrs Last alleged the driver snapped back at her but after collecting her ticket she went and sat down and told the driver to “shut up”.

She added: “I walked down the bus to sit down.

“The driver got up out of his seat and asked me to get off.

“I didn’t get off as he was trying to intimidate me and bully me. I sat tight, but he was still bellowing like a man-bull.

“Eventually he had to start the bus and he drove round to Wilkinson’s where I got off.”

Mrs Last said the bus ramps should be lowered for elderly passengers and people with pushchairs and she is asking First to apologise for the driver’s behaviour including the way he spoke to her.

She said: “It just wasn’t right.

“He knew I was retired as he gave me a concession ticket but he was yelling at me to get off the bus.

“I thought it was appalling. Most of the drivers in Colchester are really nice and helpful.

“I’m not going to be bullied, if I was a man he wouldn’t have bellowed like that.”

The Gazette contacted First with Mrs Last’s claims.

A spokesman for First Colchester said: “We take all matters relating to the service provided by our drivers very seriously and on receiving these allegations, we will undertake an investigation into the circumstances which have been brought to our attention.”