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PASSENGERS were stunned when a bus driver drove off route, stopped in the middle of a busy city centre street – and walked off saying he’d “had a gut’s full”.

The number eight service, which runs between Cardiff Bay, Grangetown and the city centre, was abandoned on Havelock Street with several commuters stranded on board.

Cardiff Bus has launched an investigation into the incident.

Passenger Colin Nash, 65, said: “I got on the bus in Grangetown and was getting ready to get off by John Lewis to change buses. But instead of carrying on the right route, he turned into Havelock Street and just got out.”

Mr Nash waited on the bus, which had its doors left open, for 20 minutes with his fellow travellers but there was no sign of a replacement driver.

The retired builder added: “You don’t just leave a bus unattended like that. Another bus driver walked up the street. I asked him if he was there to take over the number eight but he said no.

“Luckily I was able to go around to Westgate Street and pick up a number 27 to get to North Road. Then when I got off the bus there I actually saw the driver who had gone off. He told me he’d had a gut’s full.”

Mr Nash complained to Cardiff Bus workers at the company’s office on the corner of Havelock Street and Wood Street that he believed the abandoned bus was a health and safety risk.

A spokeswoman for Cardiff Bus said: “Cardiff Bus can confirm that a formal complaint has been made following an incident on the number eight bus on Wednesday afternoon. We aim to provide the best possible service for our customers, and apologise for any inconvenience caused to passengers.

“Cardiff Bus is handling this matter internally and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

This is not the first time that passengers have been left stranded by a Cardiff Bus driver. In June last year, Baycar passengers were left locked in the bus on Lloyd George Avenue for 20 minutes when their driver finished his shift without waiting for a replacement to turn up.