COLCHESTER Zoo visitors were left stranded after the bus which was meant to pick them up drove past without stopping.

The 75 service, operated by First Bus, was meant to pick up passengers from Maldon Road bus stop, just outside the zoo, at 5.15pm.

However, the bus on August 30 left day-trippers stranded after driving past. 

Location - Maldon Road's eastbound bus stopLocation - Maldon Road's eastbound bus stop (Image: Google)

One woman was waiting at the stop after enjoying a day at the zoo with her partner and three children. 

Despite the many families waving their hands, the bus failed to stop. 

Luckily a Hedingham and Chambers bus driver saw what happened and pulled into the stop just after the First Bus vehicle left. 

The big-hearted driver, who was heading to Colchester city centre, picked up as many people as possible, even though no one had valid tickets.

A Hedingham and Chambers spokesman said: "This is a wonderful example of how our driver has put the customer first and ensured that they could get to where they need to go.

"We are extremely proud of them for how they dealt with the situation at the time."

Sandra Jones, who was on the First Bus which drove past the stop, confirmed the bus was not full and could have picked up the passengers.

She said: "We were actually on that 75 bus and there was plenty of room.

"Unfortunately it all happened too quickly for any of us on the bus to do anything. We saw all the people waving though.

"Later on in the journey, one passenger got off at a stop and fortunately a passenger quickly pressed the bell because two passengers were coming downstairs and would have been taken right into the city centre.

"We saw the Hedingham bus arrive in the centre. Well done to that driver."

First Bus has confirmed they are investigating what happened.