A 13-YEAR-OLD girl and her parents claim she was left stranded by the roadside in Rodborough after being refused entry to a bus bound for Thomas Keble School because she tried to pay with a £10 note.

Harriet McLaughlin, who suffers from a form of epilepsy which leaves her vulnerable and disorientated, was trying to catch the number 3 bus to school from outside Focus in Dudbridge Hill on Tuesday, July 20.

Her parents had given her a £10 note to use for the journey, which costs £2.40 return each day.

But Harriet claims that when she tried to board the bus the driver refused to accept the note and told her she could not board - however bus operator Cotswold Green disputes her version of events.

Harriet, who lives in Rodborough and has just finished Year 8, said: "When I was told I could not board the bus I was really embarrassed.

"I started crying and didn't know where to go as I didn't have my mobile phone with me and I thought my parents would be at work."

Fortunately Harriet knew someone who lives nearby and managed to get a lift home.

Her father Steven McLaughlin said: "Harriet was thoroughly distressed.

"She suffers from absence epilepsy which means she can get disorientated.

"I don't think it is right that a school child was left on the edge of a busy road with no way of getting to school."

Rob Arkell, director of Cotswold Green, said: "My understanding of the incident, having interviewed the driver concerned, was that the girl had been asked not to pay with a £10 note the previous week.

"There were not enough passengers on that route for the driver to provide change.

"The girl was not refused travel - the driver said he could take the note and refund her later but she chose not to travel."

But Mr McLaughlin disputes this version of events and says he is still waiting to hear back from Cotswold Green.

* Do you think Harriet should have been allowed to use a £10 note? Comment here...