ANGRY mum Jill Clarke stood in front of a bus in protest at having to wait so long to catch one home with her children.

Mother-of-three Mrs Clarke took the action after standing in what she called "a freezing cold, stinking bus station" for 40 minutes after her bus failed to turn up.

She said: "My children were freezing cold and there were also pensioners waiting there and no one told us anything.

"I was so appalled I leapt in front of the bus and said 'I am protesting' and said I would not move until a bus inspector came to talk to me and got a bus to take me home."

Mrs Clarke of Green Close, in High Wycombe, had been waiting at the bus depot in High Wycombe on Tuesday for the 313 bus to Totteridge which was due at 3.25pm, but after waiting more than 30 minutes she said she was "hopping mad".

She claims four 313 buses, which were going in the opposite direction, came past the frustrated queue of shivering people.

However, David Shadbolt, spokesman for Arriva the Shires and Essex, which runs the buses, said the delayed passengers were given a free journey home.

He added: "It would appear that the problem started when one of the bus drivers had to come off the road because he was sick and his next journey had been to Totteridge.

"Other buses were delayed because of a problem in Desborough that was out of our control and so they did not get back to the depot as quick to take people out to Totteridge. When we were made aware of the problem one of the bus drivers agreed to stay on after his shift and passengers were given a free journey home. We would apologise to those who had to wait for any delay."