A 15-YEAR-OLD girl claims she was left on an isolated country road after being thrown offabus when she could not pay the full fare.

Hayley Soanes was unable to pay for a ticket home after a trip out with friends because of differences in how adult fares are charged.

Despite claims that another passenger offered to make up the difference, Hayley was told to get off. And when her three friends asked to stay with her, it is claimed they were denied by the driver.

Bus operator Arriva has promised to look into the incident.

Hayley, from Mowden, in Darlington, had gone with three friends for a walk near Gainford, on April 19. Because she was only 15, she paid a child's fare.

When the group tried to return home later in the day, Hayley encountered difficulties.

Her friends, some of whom were 16, were able to buy return tickets. But because Gainford is just outside Darlington, Hayley was not entitled to a child's fare.

She was asked to pay a full fare, which start at 14 across County Durham, but 16 in Darlington. Not having enough money to cover the difference, she was apparently told to get off.

Her father, Barry, said: "A lthough the fares are inconsistent, we are not really bothered about the fare.

"What we were disgusted about was to put our daughter offon a lonely country road, not allowing the other girls off nor allowing the other passenger to pay the extra fare.

"My father was an inspector and he said he would never kick a child offabus, but would take their name and try to reclaim the money later."

Itwas only a phone call to her parents that enabled Hayley to get home.

The couple wrote to Arriva, which confirmed that adult fares started at different ages in County Durham compared to Darlington.

Arriva spokesman Mark Ellis told The Northern Echo that, although the fares vary from authority to authority, he recommended children buy a return ticket in Darlington which will be valid throughout the journey irrespective of age policies elsewhere.

He added: "We will be investigating the incident with the depot.

"She should never have been threatened to be thrown offthe bus.

"We have in place a vulnerable passenger strategy and under no circumstances should anybody be thrown off.

"The driver will be reminded of that."