Bus rage in Chapel Road

The driver got out of his cab close to the junction with Chatsworth Road to shout at a disabled pensioner parked on double yellow lines blocking his way.

The frightened woman, in her 70s, looked on in horror as the Stagecoach driver then kicked the side of her red Ford Escort.

Crowds watched as the driver of the number 10 bus then caught a passer-by in the vehicle's automatic doors as he boarded the vehicle to argue with him.

The driver then drove towards another man as he stood in front of the bus using a mobile phone to call police.

"It was appalling behaviour," said John Green, who witnessed the five-minute incident. "It was a serious offence. There is not a company in the country that should tolerate that kind of behaviour, especially from a bus driver."

Stagecoach operations manager Bob Jackson said the driver would receive a written warning for his "inappropriate behaviour".

He said: "The driver temporarily overreacted, but he is very repentant over it. The car was in his way as he was trying to get past. It was one of those things where frustration got the better of him. I would expect staff to behave in a sensible and restrained manner rather than let the situation get the better of them."

Holders of the blue disabled badges can park on the double yellow lines for a maximum of three hours, providing they do not cause an obstruction. Mr Jackson urged county transport officers to stop disabled drivers parking along Chapel Road, as it slows traffic flow.

He told the Herald that Stagecoach raised the problem with Tex Pemberton, West Sussex county councillor for transport, in July.

He said: "They told us they were aware of the problem and were determined to do something about it, but bus drivers are frustrated and we want to see what can be done. People are often oblivious to the chaos parked cars cause."

Mr Green, 35, of York Road, Worthing, added: "There are always problems down here."

Pensioner Thomas Golds, 72, of Cotswold Road, Durrington also witnessed the incident.

He said: "I don't think any cars should be parked in Chapel Road. The bus services have got a job to do. They have to pick people up on time, especially at this time of year when they don't want to be waiting around in the cold. I've got on a bus down here before and the bus driver had to wait for 10 minutes because he couldn't get through." Police confirmed they were investigating the incident and appealed for the Escort driver to call PC Fox at Worthing Police Station on 0845 60 70 999.