A MUM with her two daughters and a friend say they were left terrified after being locked onabus for 45 minutes.

Paula Jago, 49, was on the 200 First service from Stanford-le-Hope to Grays, on her way to Lakeside, when without warning the bus driver got out of the bus at the stop at Palmers College, in Grays, and disappeared.

First has confirmed the driver fell ill at the wheel and had to leave the vehicle in a rush, with him being away from the vehicle for 20 minutes.

Ms Jago, of Parkside, Grays, described the scene. She said: “It was terrifying. “No one knew what was happening. We were stuck on the bus for 45 minutes and no one could get off.”

She described the doubledecker bus as “half full” and included other parents with young children.

She added: “My daughter Charli had to have the day off school she was so traumatised. “Her friend Abigail hadn’t even been on a bus before.

“I’ll be more anxious now about getting on a bus again.”

Passengers made efforts to get off the bus, but were only able to get off after one discovered a latch above the door.

Ms Jago, who paid £17 for the four return tickets, added: “When we eventually got the doors open, everybody just ran out. We all got on the next bus and the driver couldn’t tell us anything about what was going on.”

A spokesman from First said:"Unfortunately our driver was taken ill and sought assistance at the college. On their return to the bus some 20 minutes later, some customers had already got off and made alternative arrangement to get to their destinations.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused with the delay in service, but we hope that our customers understand and appreciate that sometimes unforeseeable incidents such as this happen and are unavoidable"