A DISGUSTED mother took her two children off a Taunton-bound bus in protest at a group of young people injecting drugs.

The driver was so appalled at the behaviour of the young people, who are believed to have been using legal highs, that he ordered three of them off.

The bus company is supporting enquiries being made by the police, who are asking members of the public to report any similar incidents.

A disabled Taunton pensioner on the 21 services from Bridgwater to Taunton on a Thursday lunchtime earlier this month said passengers were shocked by the incident.

She added: “When we reached North Petherton, a woman took herself and two children off the bus because she was so upset and disgusted and appalled that her children were subjected to seeing people injecting themselves with drugs.

“She angrily informed the driver, ‘Do you realise that they are doing drugs at the back?

“‘They are shooting up and I refuse to let my children witness this disgrace.’”

The driver then order three people off the vehicle.

Nick Smith, of South West Action Group, which campaigns against legal highs and anti-social behaviour, said: “This is not the sort of thing you want to see while on a public bus and, from the sound of it, I reckon this isn’t the first time something like this has happened.”

A spokesman for First South West said: “We are aware of an incident where the behaviour of passengers on one of our services fell short of what we feel is suitable.

“Our driver acted to remove a number of the group in question from travelling and we are supporting police with their enquiries.”

The act of injecting a legal substance in public is not in itself against the law, although there may be other issues such as anti-social behaviour.

A police spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident aboard a First bus on February 5 and hope anyone who witnessed this or indeed any other incident similar to it contacts PC Sam Iddon at Bridgwater Police station on 101.”