A WOMAN with learning difficulties was left scared and shivering for more than four hours outside a York church because a special needs bus failed to pick her up.

Helen Harrison, 27, was waiting outside Southlands Methodist Church for a community bus which never arrived, her angry parents claim.

Her father, Malcolm, said Helen, who suffers from Cornelia De Lange Syndrome, should have been collected by a City of York Council-run Community Base bus following a visit to a circle dancing class on Tuesday morning.

But Malcolm said the bus, which would have taken Helen to activities at Community Base, at Tang Hall Community Centre, never arrived.

Helen, of Copmanthorpe, was left bewildered outside the church - on one of the coldest days of this year.

Malcolm said he was so concerned for her safety, he contacted the police to report her missing.

Her disappearance was only noticed after a taxi driver arrived to pick her up from the community centre and found she was not there.

He praised taxi driver Anita Pilley, of Strensall-based Carlton Cabs, who traced Helen back to the church.

Malcolm said: "You can imagine that I am very angry. We feared that someone had abducted her. Now I am trying to get some answers. I am very grateful to Anita for finding her. We were panic-stricken when we heard she was missing."

Karen Michaelson, who runs the circle dance class, said she was horrified to hear what had happened. "I feel awful for what has happened. I did ask her if she was going to be picked up as none of the other community centre members were there. She said she was going to a party so I assumed the bus would take her straight there."

Cornelia De Lange Syndrome is a rare genetic condition which causes learning difficulties. Anita said: "When I found her, she just hugged me and said: 'They've all forgotten about me'."

A City of York Council spokesman said: "We are obviously concerned about this situation. Needless to say, we will be investigating."

Updated: 12:06 Saturday, December 14, 2002