UK-wide regulations ban paint from buses

Brian Heale, 71, criticised Cardiff Bus' "petty" rules when he was refused entry for carrying paint last week.

Now relatives of Betty Andrews, 79, has said she walked over two miles home after a similar incident last year.

Having received an apology for the "wholly unacceptable" incident, her family said the bus company should communicate regulations more clearly.

But Cardiff Bus said that it was not possible to "plaster" posters detailing health and safety regulations on their buses.

Mrs Andrews tried to get on a bus on Crwys Road, in the Cathays area of Cardiff, but was told by the driver that carrying paint on buses was against regulations.

The pensioner's granddaughter, Verity Andrews, said: "The driver turned around and said 'you can't come on here with that'. I think she was rather shocked.

They are allowing things like personal stereos and mobile phones on buses - but not a pensioner holding a tin of paint Peter Andrews

"She did not know what to say, so she just got off the bus. Because she could not get on one bus, she thought she would not be allowed on another and she walked home to Colwill Road."

Mrs Andrews' son, Peter, said his mother had been in a "hell of a state" by the time she got back to her home in Llandaff North.

He told the BBC News website: "My major criticism is that they fail to communicate what you can or cannot carry on a bus.

"They are allowing things like personal stereos and mobile phones on buses - but not a pensioner holding a tin of paint."

Mr Andrews said that Cardiff Bus subsequently apologised to Mrs Andrews and sent his mother a bunch of flowers.

A letter from managing director David Brown said he was "extremely disappointed" to hear about the incident which he said was "wholly unacceptable".

A spokesman for the bus company said a leaflet had since been produced with information about what could or could not be carried on buses.

Paint-carrying OAP thrown off bus

But the spokesman said it was impossible to communicate all conditions of travel to customers.

"There is no benefit or gain to be had by putting posters all over the place, because we can't plaster Cardiff buses with posters giving the minutiae of what can or can't be done on buses - of which carrying paint is just one of many," he said.

Cardiff Bus said "serious consideration" was given to all complaints and that an apology had been made following the September incident.

The spokesman added: "In the same month, two brand new and sealed tins of paint were dropped by another passenger on a No 61 bus, which caused considerable damage to the bus and inconvenience to many passengers because it had to be taken out of service for extensive cleaning.

"Accidents with paint cans then do happen on buses, which is why they are included in the UK-wide list of hazardous materials on public transport.