The start of a four-day school trip wasn't exactly stress-free when a 12-year-old was allegedly abandoned by the roadside because he didn't have the right bus fare.

Carlo Gonzalez ended up stranded because the Arriva driver did not have change for a £20 note, according to his mother.

The Oakwood Park Grammar pupil, from Kings Hill, was later picked up by his parents in
Mereworth village.

“What is this world coming to? This was a child with a suitcase and rucksack going on a school trip"- Jean Gonzalez.

But, according to Arriva, it only saw a £2 coin being offered for the £3.70 fare.

It claims Carlo hurriedly got off the bus before the driver could come to a solution.

The company is now investigating exactly what happened and was due to study CCTV footage.

Carlo tried to board the number 7 bus at 7.45am, just hours before he was due to go on a school holiday to Norfolk.

Mum Jean Gonzalez said: "It wasn't as though he was trying to avoid his fare. He had forgotten to take his bus pass but offered to pay.

"Carlo had no mobile phone on him and it was fortunate that a good samaritan allowed him to use his phone to contact us.

"What is this world coming to? This was a child with a suitcase and rucksack going on a school trip," she said.

Arriva's publicity manager Richard Lewis said: "I am sorry to learn that one of your reader's children apparently experienced difficulty in travelling to school.

"This complaint is being investigated, and the driver has already been interviewed."