A BUS user has hit out at a “shocking” service. Natasha Smithson says the bus she uses for work in Bradford often doesn’t turn up, is late or fails to stop for her.

Repeated complaints to operator First buses have yielded nothing, she said. One day last week she was ordered off the bus by the driver for having a flask with her.

Ms Smithson, who works near Cottingley Bridge, catches the 623/622 bus from Bradford Interchange.

“The service is an absolute disgrace,” she said. “I finish work at 6pm. There is a bus due at 6.03pm and 6.23pm. They hardly ever turn up or it goes past me 'not in service'.”

A spokesman for First said every query or complaint was logged and investigated.

“We take these matters very seriously and use the information to improve services,” he said. “If mistakes have been made we will speak to the driver and see what happened.”

He added: “Drivers are encouraged to ask passengers not to eat or drink hot items on board. This is for reasons of personal safety and consideration for other customers."

Of the 622/623 route, he admitted: “It does get congested on there. Our punctuality has been improving but there are still routes where we have work to do.”