An 11-year-old boy was left standing in the rain and unable to get to school after he was told to get off a bus by its driver for not showing his pass - because his fingers were too cold to get it out of its holder.

Sam Storey was forced to walk back home in the downpour after being told he was not allowed to travel on the 519 service to Towers School in Ashford.

He then had to knock on a neighbour's door, who was able to take him to class because his parents had already gone to work.

His mother Cassey has complained to bus company Stagecoach following the incident.

She said: "If he wasn't allowed because he didn't have his bus pass I'd understand.

"But the fact he was in that weather, he's small, he's wet, it's only his first term and the driver could see his pass but still wouldn't help him just makes me question who would do such a thing.

"He's so conscious about getting to school on time that it upset him. What if no one had been there to take him to school?"

Sam left home at 8am on Thursday to catch the school bus, which cost his parents £145 for six months, and was "soaking wet and cold" by the time it arrived, later than scheduled.

His mother Cassey, 42, said: "He wears his bus pass in a lanyard around his neck, that also contains his school dinner pass.

Video: Sam Storey describes being left in the rain by bus driver

"His hands were very cold and he was struggling to get his pass out of the plastic sleeve. His friends all got on the bus and went to a seat.

"My son showed his pass and explained to the driver that he couldn’t get it out and asked if he could help him.

"The driver said no and told him to get off the bus. Shocked and upset, my son did this. He then returned home in the pouring rain, but my husband and I had already gone to work.

"He then tried three sets of neighbours, eventually finding someone that was in and who fortunately took him to school.

"Both his father and I work where we are not always able to answer our phones and therefore dread to think what would have happened if he had been left to wander the streets.

"We pay £145 for a six-month service and put our trust in Stagecoach that they will get our son safely and on time to school each day."

Sam, who particularly enjoys French in school, said: "Obviously I was shocked and worried because I wanted to go to school and didn't know what to do.

"I was lucky to find someone but my schoolwork was soaked, we even had to chuck some in the bin.

"The buses are always late. I've been at the school for two weeks, and only three times has it arrived early or on time.

"If it had happened to someone of a younger age, or if they had autism, or if someone had taken it differently, they could've got really stressed out or worried.

"If it had been on a normal day that would've already been bad, but you should never leave a child out in the pouring rain."

A Stagecoach spokesperson said: "We were very concerned to hear this - we expect our drivers to make decisions best on the welfare of the customer involved.

"We are looking into the exact circumstances and we are very sorry that on this occasion, this passenger did not feel he could travel with us.

"We will review what happened in this case and ensure any lessons are learned for the future."

Towers School has been contacted for comment.