Surfside bus driver left bloodied and bruised after being dragged from seat and attacked by passenger. Courtesy: Nine News

UPDATED: POLICE are searching for a man who viciously assaulted a bus driver in Southport this morning ... and it was all over a fare.

The man, described as wearing no shirt, grey board shorts and carrying a black backpack was captured on camera dragging the 63-year-old driver out of the bus on to the ground and punching him in a vicious attack at a bus stop at the corner of Nerang and Pohlman Streets.

Detective Acting Inspector Paul Austin says the attack occurred about 8.30am when the passenger boarded the bus and tried to pay with a pre-paid travel card, or GoCard, which didn’t have any money on it.

The culprit then tried to pay with a $50 note, but the 63-year-old driver did not have sufficient change.

TEENAGE GIRLS ATTACK ELDERLY MAN ON BUS

“There was an attempt at payment, however we do believe there was an escalation of his language, of his demeanour, which then became violent,” Insp Austin told reporters.

The driver was taken to hospital with bruising and cuts to his face.News_Image_File: Police question a Surfside buslines driver who was assaulted by a passenger at a bus stop at the corner of Nerang and Pohlman streets, Southport today.

Insp Austin commended the driver for getting up once he was being assaulted and moving towards the door so other passengers on the bus were not in the firing line.

“However, that did mean that the assault continued ... and he received further assault on the footpath,” he said.

Video of the incident shows the driver being dragged on the ground outside the bus while being kicked by his attacker.

The culprit is thought to be in his late teens or News_Image_File: Police speak to the injured driver at the scene.early 20s, has a dark complexion, a medium build, tattoos and sports a mohawk hairstyle.

The attack comes a month after two women - Lana Watmough, 21, and Layni Cameron, 17 - sparked outrage after the were recorded allegedly assaulting an elderly man on a Gold Coast bus.

Insp Austin said he expected a similar public outcry.

“In the social media, we’ll get a lot of response as to what people think,” he said.

“We’ll do our job and follow this investigation out to the nth degree.”

News_Image_File: A bus driver was assaulted by a passenger at Southport. Another passenger captured this dramatic photo.

A nearby business owner said the man involved is a known local in the area and was seen arguing with the bus driver.

“I think he tried to pay his fare with a $50 or $100 note and the bus driver might have said no,” the witness said.

“Next thing he was out of the bus and picked up his things which had fallen out of his bag.

“Then he walked across the road and down Pohlman Street.”

Witnesses described the man as in his late teens or early 20s with short, spiky hair.

News_Image_File: Police at the scene of a bus assault in Southport today.

EARLIER: A BUS driver has sustained minor facial injuries after he was punched by a passenger in Southport.

The man is described as wearing grey boardshorts with no shirt and is believed to be carrying a black backpack. He has dark skin.

Police and ambulance are on the scene.