A disabled woman who was “over the moon” when two bus companies pledged to help her after she was regularly refused access to public transport because of her mobility scooter has been dealt a blow – after another “rude” driver told her she could not get on.

Last month, the Bucks Free Press told how Linda Berlin, who struggles with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) and asthma and has to get to High Wycombe five times a week on the bus, had been told by dozens of bus drivers that she could not get on with her scooter.

After coming to the Bucks Free Press to plead for help, both Arriva and Carousel – who operate the 1 and 1A routes that Ms Berlin uses from her home in Chesham to High Wycombe bus station – agreed to invite her for an assessment at their depots to make sure she could safely get on and off the bus.

Ms Berlin says that during her assessment at the bus depot, she tested out five different buses and she could get on each one.

She passed the assessments and was given a permit that she can show to drivers, allowing her to get on the bus with ease.

She relies on her mobility scooter and has to take eight steroids, 35 different tablets and three inhalers every day due to her health issues.

Just days after calling up the paper to say she was “over the moon” with the outcome, Ms Berlin has been dealt a devastating blow – she was refused access to an Arriva bus at High Wycombe bus station on Tuesday evening.

Speaking on Wednesday, she said: “I showed the driver my new bus pass and I was still refused. He said ‘you’re not getting on this bus’. The friend I was offered to stay with me but I told her to get on because she had children to get home to.

“He was so rude to me – it is really unfair. When the company passed me and gave me a permit, I was so happy but still drivers are not letting me on. It has really knocked my confidence – I was supposed to get on the bus today but I couldn’t face it.”

Simon Finnie, area managing director for Arriva Midlands South, said: “It is disappointing to hear that the customer concerned is still experiencing issues when attempting to travel with Arriva whilst using a mobility scooter.

“We take all complaints of the nature incredibly seriously and this is certainly an incident that we will be investigating further to ensure such problems can be mitigated in the future.”