A MUM has slammed drivers who, she claims, have refused to let her disabled three-year-old travel on the bus.

Single mum Karina Ballard is forced to use buses up to four times a day with wheelchair-bound daughter Melody.

She says problems have arisen over the last two months on the T31 route, with drivers either leaving them behind or refusing to help them get onto buses.

Karina, 28, from New Addington, said: "There have been at least three times when they haven't let us get on and many times when they haven't helped at all.

"I'm not asking them to do anything special – just for them to do their jobs."

Melody has Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder which means she will never talk.

Karina herself has spina bifida, meaning she suffers pain if she tries to lift anything like Melody's wheelchair.

The young mum says she has complained to bus company Arriva "three times a week for the last month".

She added: "It seems to only be buses in New Addington because I caught one from Forest Hill once and they were amazing.

"It's not all drivers, but it really is ruining my life – obviously they haven't been through this themselves."

In response, an Arriva spokesman said: "We would expect all our staff to be courteous and helpful to any passengers who are disabled and we will make an investigation into the times when Ms Ballard lodged complaints.

"If we do get reports of drivers who are unhelpful or rude, separate investigations into their behaviour will be carried out and they will be disciplined accordingly."