A PARTIALLY paralysed stroke victim was ordered off a bus and forced to walk more than two miles because he was unable to count out his change for a ticket.

Brian Davies, who has difficulty talking and limited mobility, had attended a routine appointment at Salisbury District Hospital and was trying to get a Wilts & Dorset bus into the city centre.

But the 61-year-old was left stranded after the driver refused to help him with his money and said he was taking too long to pay his fare.

Stunned Mr Davies, who was wearing a large badge that explains he has suffered a stroke, felt he was left with no option but to walk into Salisbury, crossing the dual carriageway and several busy roads on the way.

"There was no need for them to do that to me," he said.

"I had enough money, I just can't count it. I put it in the tray and asked the driver to take it - he said 'I'm not taking that', and when I tried to do it, he made me get off."

It took Mr Davies more than 45 minutes to walk into the city centre and his family are livid about his treatment.

"This didn't happen at any old bus stop - it was outside a hospital," said his brother, David (57).

"Surely the driver must realise that patients with all different problems get on the bus there.

"My brother was wearing his stroke badge on his jacket, so it should be obvious he is disabled. He was treated appallingly and ended up walking along a road that doesn't have a footpath in places."

Mr Davies, of Sixpenny Handley, has suffered two serious strokes in nine years and cannot use his right arm.

He hopes other stroke victims will receive better treatment from public services in the future.

"I walked to the town but lots of people can't do that," he said. "They would be left there."

Mr Davies's family has complained to the bus company, after last Wednesday morning's incident, and a Wilts & Dorset spokesman said an investigation had been launched to identify the driver.

Wilts & Dorset operations director Andrew Wickham apologised for the way Mr Davies had been treated.

"We understand Mr Davies was not allowed to travel on one of our buses," he said. "We are very sorry and that sort of thing is unacceptable."

"We do have 550 drivers and take 70,000 passengers a day, and thankfully, these incidents, are few and far between.

"We have not identified the driver yet but will deal with the matter when we do.

"We are about to embark on a new customer care training programme, which will include disability awareness training, and we shall liaise with the Stroke Association."