London police are searching for the driver of a school bus who tried to pick up elementary school pupils from a bus stop.

The bus stopped about 8 a.m. Monday at Highview Ave. W. and Highview Cres., police said.

The driver opened the doors. Some children were about to get on when they realized it wasn’t their bus, police said. The children also noticed a dog on the bus.

“The driver didn’t try to entice or coerce the kids to get on the bus,” Const. Ken Steeves said Wednesday.

The driver closed the door and drove away and the regular bus arrived a short time later.

The children waiting at the stop are about 10 years old and attend Ecole Frere Andre, Steeves said.

Investigators are checking with bus lines to determine if there was a driver who was unfamiliar with the route and made the wrong stop.

But the report of a dog on the bus is unusual because dogs aren’t normally permitted on the vehicles, Steeves said.

London police checked with area police forces in other areas and didn’t find reports of stolen buses or unusual incidents.

Police went public with the investigation after information about a “fake bus” was circulated on social media sites, Steeves said.

“We want to minimize the concern of parents, and advise them we’re investigating. There is no indication of any foul play at this point.”

hank.daniszewski@sunmedia.ca

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