MUM Claire Eacott has complained to Devizes MP Michael Ancram after she and her baby were twice refused entry on to a bus .

Miss Eacott, 27, says she was left stranded at the roadside by the same bus driver on the number two service operated by the Wilts and Dorset Bus Company.

The first time it happened was when she tried to catch the bus from Potterne, where she lives, to Devizes and the second time was in Devizes on October 2 when she was due to travel back to Potterne with her eight-month-old son Lewis.

Miss Eacott, of Blackberry Lane, said: "I didn't keep a note of the date and time when the driver refused to let us on the first time.

"The driver stopped for other people but said 'no sorry' to me and Lewis although there was space on the bus.

"On the second occasion the driver said no buggies were allowed on the bus and he said there would be another bus along in a couple of minutes. But it did not turn up and we were left waiting in a cold bus stop for almost an hour.

"I thought it was strange on the first occasion but when it happened the second time I thought it was ridiculous so I wrote and complained to Wilts and Dorset but have not received a reply and that was about five weeks ago."

Miss Eacott took her complaint to Mr Ancram on Saturday and he said he would take it up with the bus company.

Miss Eacott, who has back pain following a road accident in 1997, said low floor buses should be introduced on the Potterne to Devizes route to benefit mothers with babies, people with disabilities and elderly people.

She also thinks a baby seat could be installed on buses to help mothers.

Kevin Dolan, Wilts and Dorset's administrative officer based in the head office at Poole, Dorset, said he had not seen Miss Eacott's letter but promised to write to her following the Gazette's intervention.

He said an investigation would be carried out with the driver of the bus to find out why he did not allow Miss Eacott on it.

Mr Dolan said: "Our policy is to carry everyone on the bus if there is room for them. We are not going to prohibit anyone from travelling if a person has a baby with them.

"If that is the only reason why Miss Eacott was not allowed on the bus then we disapprove of it heartily."

He said the company was in the process of updating its fleet of buses to provide more low floor vehicles.