Bus chiefs have apologised after a wheelchair-bound man was left stranded in Bradford after the bus he needed to catch was cancelled.

Lee Pearson, of Crag Road, Shipley, had been visiting friends in Clayton, when he attempted to make the two bus journey home.

He had checked the timetable for the number 637 First bus which would take him to the Interchange, to enable him to catch the last bus home – the number 659 at 9.40pm.

However, the bus did not appear in Pasture Lane at 9pm and he had to wait for the next one at 10pm – which meant he missed his connection.

Mr Pearson, 22, who suffers from cerebral palsy, said: “I only had my bus pass with me, so went to complain when I got to the Interchange as I had no means of getting home.

“I had tried ringing friends to see if I could get a lift, or stay with them, but no-one could. Eventually I spoke to an inspector for First, who said it wasn’t their responsibility to get me home and that they had not had enough drivers to run the bus I tried to catch.

“He said he could send me a customer complaint form, which wasn’t much use as I was stranded.

“In the end I went to the police station, and they gave me a lift.”

A First spokesman said: “We would like to apologise for this unfortunate set of circumstances.

“Unfortunately, owing to a shortage of drivers, we were unable to run one of our evening buses on the 637 route.

“We are very sorry this gentleman was left having to make alternative arrangements and we will be getting in touch with him, once he has made an official complaint.”