 Anthony Williams had only been taking the bus for one week |
A 12-year-old boy walked for four hours through Cardiff after he was not allowed on a school bus because he had lost his pass, it has emerged. Anthony Williams, a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf in Llandaff North, made his own way back to his home in Llanedeyrn.
South Wales Police searched the area after his worried mother contacted the force when he did not turn up on time.
Cardiff County Council, which runs the contract with Shamrock Coaches, said the incident must have been "pretty terrifying" for the boy and his family.
A spokesman said the council would be trying to ensure the same thing did not happen again.
Anthony had only been at his new school for one week and got lost several times as he tried to follow the bus route home.
 |  He ended up walking through Gabalfa, Whitchurch, Birchgrove, Heath, Llanishen, Lisvane and Cyncoed  |
"It was a harrowing time for us," said his mother Corrina Rundle, who said she was furious with Shamrock Coaches and Cardiff County Council.
"Four hours is a long time to wait for your son to come home from school."
"He tried to get on the bus and told the driver he had lost his pass, but he was told it was 'tough luck' and to get off.
"It is just ridiculous. It is a free bus service and he was dressed in his uniform.
"He ended up walking through Gabalfa, Whitchurch, Birchgrove, Heath, Llanishen, Lisvane and Cyncoed."
'Overcrowding'
Mrs Rundle added she did not know whether to laugh or cry when he got home at about 1930 BST.
In a statement, Shamrock Coaches said: "As part of our contractual obligations, we have to ensure that children who travel on our service are authorised.
"This is due to the fact there have been occasions when overcrowding has been caused by children going home with their friends on a different vehicle.
"The driver is authorised by the company to inspect bus passes as the children enter the vehicle.
"Approximately seven did not have bus passes and they were requested to wait until the other children had boarded the vehicle with a member of the school staff present.
'Head count'
"The driver indicated that all the pupils would be taken subject to there being sufficient capacity.
"We were made aware that the child in question had subsequently unilaterally decided to walk home.
"Six other pupils who had waited for the head count to be completed were allowed on the vehicle without passes.
"The driver carried out the procedures as a contractual requirement by the local authority.
"Master Anthony Williams would have been allowed to travel had he waited for the process to be completed. We never leave children unattended."
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