Sian Whelpton and her two-year-old twins Natalya and Kai

Sian Whelpton, from Risca near Newport, said she was shaking after the driver stopped the bus. She said he told her: "I've had a gut full of your kid."

Ms Whelpton, 28, was on her way home from a shopping trip when her two-year-old son, Kai, burst into tears.

A spokesman for the Glyn Williams bus company, Ian Macdonald, said the driver had acted in the interests of road safety.

The mother claimed she had no choice but to leave the bus with her three children and six bags of shopping when the driver stopped.

She said: "Kai started bawling and I was doing everything I could to get him to stop.

We have to look at the comfort and safety of everybody on the bus Ian Macdonald, bus company

"Suddenly the driver pulled over and turned to me and said he'd had a guts full of my child crying.

"I said, 'Excuse me?', and he replied, 'He hasn't stopped crying since you got on.'"

"I was so embarrassed that the driver spoke to me like that in front of other passengers.

"I got off the bus - I was fuming to the point where I was shaking," she added.

Ms Whelpton then had to walk home with children Jay, eight, and two-year-old twins Kai and Natalya.

Ian Macdonald, commercial manager for Glyn Williams, said the driver had made the right choice.

He said: "If a child is screaming on a bus you can't just leave it because the driver has to concentrate and hear bells and other traffic.

"We have a legal duty to ensure anyone whose behaviour may cause a problem, offence, or discomfort is obliged to leave the bus.

"We carry a lot of people - up to 6,000 a day.

"We have to look at the comfort and safety of everybody on the bus.

He added that the safety of 20 or 30 other people on the bus took priority over one person.

I am horrified by this story. I have been looking to move with my family to Wales to study. I have even gone so far as to learn a new language to ease the transition, but after seeing the comments of so many people, I will have to rethink my decision to move my two small children to such a place.
Iris, USA

I am employed as a full-time driver. Whilst I can understand the pressure of babies crying, I feel what this driver has done is wrong. These are everyday things that are part of a bus driver's job. I do have to say professionalism is being able to handle the stress of a bus driver's job and some understanding of what it's like for a mother with children and shopping would not go amiss. The bus company should also be doing more to help their drivers with training on how to deal with stressful situations. From experience, i can tell you the driver would still have been as stressed when the mother and kids got off.
T.Walker, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan

Surely the driver could have pulled in at a bus stop and spoken calmly and politely to this lady saying something like "I'm finding it hard to drive safely as your child's crying is so distracting, please try and calm him". If he had given her a couple of minutes to the next stop maybe she could have distracted him or someone else on the bus may have stepped in to help, but to act angrily and throw the family off with no warning is incredibly aggressive and humiliating.
Helen, Basingstoke UK

The same thing happened on an airplane. The parents were put off at the planes next stop due to their crying offspring. So why not a bus? There are always choices: 1. Stay home 2. Leave the crier at home 3. Walk
DMA, USA

I have three children of my own so I know one thing - you can try , you can cajole and you can threaten but when a two-year-old decides to scream it takes up to 10 Minutes to get their attention off the tantrum. For those of you that agree with the driver - you are obviously the reason why it is "improper" to allow children in restaurants etc. The culture in this country sometimes makes parents feel like second class citizens.
Fernanda Phillips, Flint, WALES

To say I am disgusted would be an understatement. As the mother of two small children, I know there are times no matter how hard you try, your child cannot be calmed Cynthia, Montreal

Good for the driver. He has a duty to concentrate on the roads, also a duty to passengers not to have them annoyed by loud noises. Sometimes certain things cannot be helped but the mother should have been able to keep the child quiet and not annoy all the other passengers. There are far too many children screaming on public transport just to draw attention to themselves. Well done drive. You were only doing your job.
Lily Thomson, Glasgow

As my mother would have said to me: "If you don't stop showing yourself up in public I shan't bring you out again, and if you don't stop crying I'll give you something to cry about!" Little angels I think not! Good on you bus driver!
Tony, Pontyclun, Wales

People listen to music when they are driving. Some even have telephone conversations. Whilst these may not be "annoying" like a toddler crying but aren't they just as distracting? Being a mother of a three-year-old I know how difficult (and embarrassing) it can be to calm a two-year -old having a tantrum.
Kerry Newell, Windsor, Berks

There nothing more annoying than squealing children when in a confined space such as a bus or train, etc. I can imagine how this could distract the driver's attention and endanger the lives of others!
Matt Pearson, Cardiff, Wales

Well done. Can there be anything more annoying than parents who won't discipline their children? The things parents let their "little angels" do in public always continues to amaze me.
James, London, UK

Excellent. Well done to the driver of the bus for making a difficult decision and looking after his passengers. It would have been easier to grin and bear it - something which is peculiarly British. I wish I was as forthright.
Michael, Cardiff

One of the most distracting and dangerous things in any moving vehicle is screaming children. All the family men and women would have their views. I have driven behind people with unruly children in the car, mobile phones at their ears are way less dangerous. Give the driver a break here, not everyone thinks kids are precious little pearls.
David, Wales

I have teenage children now but know how absolutely mortifying it is when toddlers decide to "kick off". I am not used to screaming tantrums anymore but if I had been a passenger on the bus I would have felt nothing but sympathy for the mother. It is one thing to allow your children to scream and cry without pacifying them but to be caught on a bus must have been terribly stressful. I would like to say to Ms Whelpton that I would have done my best to offer support. Where were the other passengers? Did they simply let the driver throw her off?
Natalie, SE

Bus drivers in Cardiff are underpaid, often work unsocial hours, suffer abuse from passengers and generally work in a stressful environment. I have met drivers who have been awkward but I wonder about the rest of the passengers here? Why did they not rush to the woman's aid? We love to attack people who don't conform to our expectations, but we also as a culture have a pretty low opinion of children. I feel sorry for everyone who has to travel by bus - the mother with tired children, the driver with an unrewarding job. What this incident exposes is the appalling state of public transport.
Nora, Cardiff

To say I am disgusted would be an understatement. As the mother of two small children, I know there are times no matter how hard you try, your child cannot be calmed. I thank God I drive a car.
Cynthia, Montreal, Canada

I for one would pay extra for no children on flights and transport. Well done that driver David Pardoe, Cwmbran

It's a sad commentary on these times. I'm curious as to whether any of her fellow passengers tried to support this woman. Also, I don't doubt the driver was bothered by the crying, but really his discomfort was nothing to that of a mother trying to get her shopping home on public transport while supervising three children. These bus drivers encounter much worse on a daily basis. His behaviour was really inexcusable.
Ron, Toronto, Canada

I've read some of the comments and I am stunned at the complete lack of understanding in raising a young family. Do you really think that this mother wanted to be on a bus with a child who is screaming - us parents don't choose to have our children scream, it happens. As for "children should be seen and not heard" - please note that the year is 2004 not the Victorian ages. Mobile phones, personal stereos and the elderly yelling at each other about their various medical complaints are far more annoying!!
Amanda, Eastbourne

I am appalled by this. It is bad enough trying to comfort a weeping child on a bus, in front of a disapproving audience usually, without worrying that an intolerant driver will throw you off. Has the same driver ever ordered off smokers, drunks or abusive teenagers - all of whom are equally dangerous passengers? Or is this another example of family-unfriendly Britain?
M Denham, Glasgow

Not only can I NOT believe that this has happened, I can't even begin to understand the various comments left by the public in relation to this topic! She should be compensated for this.
Tristan, Swansea, South Wales

Don't use the excuse that the crying was distracting the bus driver. Do ambulance drivers throw passengers out if they are making a noise? Children crying can be annoying but throwing them off public transport just shows how intolerant this society really is towards mothers and children.
N Wakelin, Clydach, Swansea

I agree that the driver and bus company are totally in the wrong. There have been those who comment that " a good slap got me back in line very quickly" - not the thing to do these days, as I am sure if that is what the mum did then somebody on the bus would have reported her for child abuse, they were near by to help but they kept quiet and did not make an effort to keep them on the bus. I just hope that I would have been able to do the right thing and spoken up in their defence.
G Russell, Cwmbran

I for one would pay extra for no children on flights and transport. Well done that driver
David Pardoe, Cwmbran

Although I think this probably goes too far, there is nothing worse than a permanently grizzling child next to you, particularly when it's only done for attention and you're trying to concentrate. I can understand the driver's reaction.
James, Coventry

It comes as no surprise that the majority of people saying "good on the driver" are male. Wait until you have kids and see how your attitude changes. You were a toddler once, and at one time almost certainly placed your mother in the same position.
Paul Hughes, Bangor, N.Wales

The posts here seem to confirm my theory that most screaming kids on buses turn into pompous, arrogant, purile single males who post to BBC websites! Nothing less than a full apology from the bus company should be expected for this disgusting behaviour.
Dean Poole, Newport, Wales

Children don't come with an on/off switch. Yes it can be annoying to have children crying in any situation, but it's just as annoying when the driver talks to colleagues while driving, or when you're sitting near to people who speak so loud that the whole bus is forced to hear their conversations!! Whatever next - perhaps Glyn Williams will introduce a dress code next!
Mark Taylor, Newport, S. Wales

As the parent of a two-year-old, I know that it is not possible to reason with a toddler when they decide to scream. The driver should have gritted his teeth and driven them the rest of their journey. He is more than just a driver - he also has a responsibility to ensure that fare-paying passengers get home safely with all their children, screaming or not.
S Jones, Cardiff

You are putting your life in the driver's hands... I have seen drivers with screaming children in their cars, their driving really suffers for it. I'd much rather the bus driver stopped and removed the annoyance than to keep on driving knowing the bus could be involved in an accident that may injure or kill its passengers.
David Hunt, Cambridge

This driver's disgusting attitude reminds me of why I decided to leave Britain before having children! Carys, France

This is a major blow to government initiative to encourage general public to use more public transport. If public transport can't be more compassionate towards public, they have no right to serve the public. It is a general knowledge that children tantrum can be very difficult to manage.
Asrul Akmal Shafie, Cardiff, UK

Travelling on public transport, especially with children in tow, isn't a privilege to be given and taken away by companies at a whim, it's a necessity. The driver should have stopped the bus and asked the mother to move away from the driver. However abusive orders to leave the bus are unacceptable. She should have refused and asked for the police to be called. Sian is owed an apology.
Matthew, UK

Unbelievable. A mother with three children and shopping asked to leave a bus she obviously needs to use, shame on all of you.
Kenneth Ross, London, England

This driver's disgusting attitude reminds me of why I decided to leave Britain before having children! Yes, the driver has the responsibility for the safety of his passengers, and there is no doubt that that should be primordial, but he should also provide a public service for anyone who needs it. I believe that a mother with three young children and six shopping bags deserves better treatment. What about the other passengers? Could nobody else on the bus help the mother to distract the child? I suppose that the other passengers would have felt "uncomfortable" interfering, but I'm certain that the discomfort suffered by the mother and her children was much more profound, not to speak of the danger of trying to walk along busy streets with three children while heavily laden with shopping bags.
Carys, France

I think that the bus company is wrong. It a mild annoyance when children cry even if it persistently, yet the problems that this caused the mother and children is far greater.
David Roberts, Cardiff, Wales

I think that the driver made the right decision. We have all heard of coach and bus crashes that could easily have been avoided and so he acted in the best interests of all his passengers and other road users. We all know how distracting (as well as annoying) screaming children can be who will not stop and this driver should not be criticised for his actions.
Mark Manaton, London, UK

Why is it that the men and the ones who don't have children tend to agree with the driver? And a slap can no longer be considered acceptable way to handle a child.
Krista, Finland

It's amazing how children cease to be 'people'. There were four people turned off the bus: two two-year-olds, one eight-year-old and their mother. It's difficult enough to manage children on public transport let alone with six bags of shopping as well. Does this sort of approach from the bus company really encourage people to use public transport? I can understand the health and safety aspect but what about a polite request to leave with an explanation and a fair refund would be acceptable - there is no reason to verbally abuse anyone. What did the other passengers think? If I had been on board I certainly would have been discouraged to use the service again, with or without my children in tow.
C Watkins,

Good for the driver, I (and many others) hate screaming kids in supermarkets, buses, trains. Couldn't the woman calm her child down and get the next bus? Why did she have to put everyone else through her child's misery? "The needs of the masses are greater than the needs of the few"
Mike, Cardiff

I am appalled by this driver's attitude and comments made to the poor woman, but absolutely disgusted by some of the comments made by the men here. I bet they weren't "little angels" when they were two!
S Shah, London, UK

When reading readers' comments three men said good enough, children should be seen and not heard. Typical, when it's mostly the women who have to struggle with children and shopping -- hectic enough without having to worry about a bus journey too.
Eisabeth, Swansea

I would rather put up with a crying child, although it is annoying, than have to put up with someone else's Walkman at full blast Muiris, Cardiff

I would just like to say I find some of the comments posted in relation to this story appalling. Some people clearly are completely inconsiderate, unsympathetic and just plain stupid. Do you really think this mother WANTED her child to cry? Sometimes children cry for no discernible reason! And lets remember, they're only children and this particular one was only two! With regard to the comment which suggested "children should be seen and not heard," I have to say that this person is clearly living in the dark ages. Children were seen and not heard 100 years ago, not in the 21st Century!
Greg Frane, Eastbourne, UK

Sounds to me that this was the action of a rather intolerant driver rather than anything to do with safety concerns. How the bus company can defend his actions is beyond me.
Simon Watkins, Cardiff

As any parent would agree it is almost impossible to keep an upset child quiet, although from your reports the child's mother was doing her best. One last comment, how would the driver react if HIS partner had been treated this way?
Jason bird, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Disgusting! The bus driver had no right to treat this child, nor its mother, in this manner. If there was a threat to other lives then the situation should have been carefully and diplomatically handled for all parties. I hope that this Mother and her children receive at the very least an apology for the treatment they have received from this so-called service provider.
Debbie, Neath

I think if the noise the child is making is going to potentially distract the driver and thereby cause an accident then there is some argument about asking the mother to get off. However if we are to take the line that shouting and screaming by children is not acceptable on buses and that should they do so they must get off, there will be a lot of children in my area walking to school. . . . !
Maudie Miller, Jameston, Tenby - Pembrokeshire

I agree with the driver. There are so many screaming kids out there
Neil, Liverpool (formerly Cwmbran)

Am amazed that there was such a complete lack of understanding by both the driver and the company. Children can't be switched off. Do they think the mother enjoyed the screaming and crying? Shame on the Glyn Williams bus company.
Sioned-Mair Richards, Sheffield

Quite right. This should become a policy for all public transport. Of course we have to show understanding for people travelling with young children, but it can be very annoying when you are taking a long train journey and someone's kid just won't shut up, and the parents don't really make much of an effort to silence them. Children should be seen and not heard. I don't have children myself, but when I was young a good slap got me back in line very quickly. I say if the parents won't do this the conductor should in the interests of the other weary travellers on board.
Allan, Leamington

Well done the bus company, I only wish that Cardiff buses would adopt the same policy. If people can't control their kids in public, they shouldn't be able to use public transport. It's bad enough having to travel on congested often stuffy public transport, without having to hear some kid screaming his/her head off.
Brendan Murphy, Cardiff Wales

Whilst I understand the driver's reaction I cannot condone it. I am even more surprised to hear the bus company saying he'd done the right thing! To then read that the mother struggled home with shopping and children is not right. Both driver and bus company should be ashamed
Wayne Kennedy, London UK

I think this is appalling. To say that this driver was acting in the interests of road and passenger safety is just a cop-out. What about the safety of Ms Whelpton and her children? Glyn Williams needs to apologise to Ms Whelpton in person.
Keith, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Very young children often cry, that is part of the growing up process - we even have a term for it: "the terrible twos". We can't expect children to just disappear or not to use public transport just because they are prone to crying at that age. I would rather put up with a crying child, although it is annoying, than have to put up with someone else's Walkman at full blast.
Muiris, Cardiff

This is disgusting. The attitude of the bus company is even worse. Small children cry, that is a fact of life. Is the bus company suggesting we return to Victorian days where children are seen and not heard? Glyn Williams ought to be ashamed of their disgraceful attempt to justify the driver's actions. A "safety issue"? Sounds like a pretty poor excuse to me. Where was the thought for the safety of the mother and her three children. If this occurred in my area I would never use the service again.
JD, UK