War veteran, 94, hurled onto pavement by bus driver

A battle of Britain veteran was thrown off a bus because his OAP travel pass was not valid for another 40 minutes.

Frail Thomas Bleasdale, 94, fell flat on his face on the pavement after being manhandled off the bus, bruising his hands and knees.

The former RAF engineer had wanted the 8.50am service, but his pass was only valid for travel after 9.30am.



When Mr Bleasdale pointed out it said nothing about restrictions on his pass, the driver grabbed him and threw him off near his home in Preston, Lancs.

He said: "I went flat out on the pavement, someone picked me up and sat me down, but I cannot remember anything after that."

A Preston Bus spokesman said the driver had since left.