A BUS company has apologised after a driver refused to allow a young mother with two premature twins onto his vehicle because she had a double buggy.

Stacey Kappel was forced to get out and walk after she was told the pushchair was against company policy.

Ms Kappel, from Darlington, was struggling to get on board an Arriva bus with babies Jackson and Spencer when the driver stopped her because of the buggy.

The 17-year-old offered to fold the pushchair away and hold the twins on her lap, but the driver refused and told her to get off.

"I couldn't believe this happened," said Stacey's mother, Angela Abdale. "She always gets on the bus with the buggy - it's the only way she can get around.

"The babies were born premature, so they need regular check ups and she was on her way into town to see the doctor.

"The driver let her on, but then made her to get off again. He told her the company held a meeting earlier that day and decided to ban buggies because they take up too much room and people in wheelchairs can't get past.

"She said she would fold it down if it was a problem, but he told her to get off the bus."

After a letter of complaint from Mrs Abdale, the company apologised and sent her a complimentary bus ticket - worth £1.15.

"I couldn't believe they sent us one free ticket - what an insult," said Mrs Abdale, 38.

"We didn't want anything from them, all we wanted to know was that this driver had been punished for what he did.

"Stacey is really nervous about getting on the bus again."

A spokesman for Arriva said: "We do not know of any meeting at which drivers were told not to carry buggies within the bus.

"If someone gets on with a wheelchair we would ask the person with the buggy to fold it, but we would expect our drivers to act in a courteous and polite manner in all cases and offer assistance where possible.

"Arriva would like to apologise to the lady for any inconvenience caused."