A 12-YEAR-OLD school pupil was forced to walk home alone for more than two miles after a First bus driver refused to accept his "wet and unreadable" bus ticket. Stuart Thomas' young son was literally left standing in the rain when the driver refused to let him board when he left Minehead Middle School on Tuesday afternoon to make his way home to Dunster. He was forced to walk the two miles back to the village along the busy A39, returning home soaking wet and nearly an hour late. Mr Thomas immediately reported the incident to bus operator First and said he was surprised but pleased to receive a timely response the following morning. He told the Free Press: "I used to walk home every day at my son's age but it's a different world we live in today. "He looks his age so there's no way the driver could have thought he was an older pupil trying to pull a fast one. "While I understand the need for legible ticketing, I do think a bit of leniency on the part of the driver could have been exercised in this case." He added: "Although I was glad First got back to me so quickly, it makes me wonder if this has happened to other people. "The last thing I want to hear is that a child has been kidnapped or worse because of something like this. Anyone could have snatched him as he walked home? Mr Thomas said he had been told First intended to trace the bus driver involved and "severely reprimand" them for what had happened. "It is good to know that somebody in such a large corporation has the wherewithal to do something about the problem," Mr Thomas said. But he said the incident was "just another example of the appalling service" offered by First. He said he would like to pledge never to use the service again, but said his son had little choice but to catch the bus to school each day. No one from First was available for comment before the Free Press went to print.