THE father of an 11-year-old girl claims a York bus driver refused to sell her a child’s weekly pass – because she could not produce ID to show she was under 16.

Steve Harris, of Rawcliffe, said his daughter, Megan, boarded a Number 6 First York bus each day to go to All Saints School and bought a weekly pass every Monday morning.

But he said last Monday, the driver showed her a company letter saying all drivers must ask children aged 11 to 16 for ID, and said without it, she could not travel unless she bought an adult weekly pass. She had to use her dinner money to buy one.

“My daughter said she did not even have any ID but was asked whether she had a passport,” he said.

“Using her dinner money, she never ate all day and came home very distressed.”

He said Megan barely looked 11, never mind 16.

A First spokesman said it was sorry Mr Harris’ daughter had been so distressed and it was investigating so it could respond to him in more detail.

“We can confirm though that the child week ticket is only available to 11-16 year olds with a YOzone 11-16 card or other photo ID showing date of birth,” he said.

“YOzone cards are available in person from City of York Council West Offices or by post – visit firstgroup.com/york.

“It is extremely difficult to make exceptions to this rule, especially at busy boarding times, without placing the driver in a difficult customer service position with both individual customers as well as nearby groups of customers.

“Drivers do have some discretion in this matter and we are glad in this instance that a solution was reached that allowed the young girl to travel on our bus without being left on the roadside in what could have been a vulnerable position.”