Passengers on a replacement bus to Largs were left shocked when the driver got lost THREE times upon attempting to find the town.

Last Wednesday, Alex Young was travelling by train from Irvine, when he was informed that there would be a replacement bus service in operation at Kilwinning due to train cancellations caused by adverse weather.

Those onboard couldn’t believe it when the driver didn’t know where he was going, resulting in the journey back to Largs lasting an hour - a journey which normally takes half that time.

Alex, a former Largs resident, said: “I was told that some people were laughing about it, but it was a fiasco. Other people were concerned, and didn’t know what was happening.

“When we arrived at Kilwinning station at 1.20pm, we went to the bus but the driver didn’t open the door. He was parked in the car park, and we were worried that the bus was going to leave without us. We had to walk across the car park to get to the bus.

“And then he pulled forward 20 foot to the pick up point, and we were able to get on board.

“He then turned around to a passenger, and said that he didn’t know where Largs was, but he was sure he would know when he passed it. He got lost three times in Stevenston and we had to turn round in a car park. Another bus driver managed to point him the right way to go.

“He next attempted an impossible right turn in West Kilbride after three passengers told him he would not make it.

“So I am thinking then is it safer to put honest fare paying passengers in the hands of these incompetent drivers that are apparently from Airdrie who don’t know their way around the west coast? I also feel that these large buses are unsafe in places like West Kilbride and Fairlie?” Alex, who is a class 1 lorry driver and health and safety representative for the Communications Workers Union, said; “The vehicle was too big and struggled to get up the hill. The driver did manage to drop one old woman outside her house.

“I spoke to the driver at the end and told him that I didn’t think the vehicle was suitable for these kind of journeys. He responded - shall I do the job, or do I not do the job?” In recent weeks, the replacement buses have been in use regularly due to extreme weather, while engineering works has resulted in the the buses also coming into use during the duration of Janurary, and into the start of February.

They will run on Sundays 18 and 25 January, and 1, 8 and 15 February.

A spokesman for FirstRail, who provide emergency and planned rail replacement transport to train operating companies, said: "I can confirm we have received the complaint from My Young and our complaints department will start looking into this. We will also forward a copy to Scotrail Customer Relations to make them aware if Mr Young hasn't done so."