The bus driver at the heart of a modern-day romance has reached out to the woman desperately trying to contact him - with some bad news.
Donna Suter tried to flag down a bus driver after spotting the 'fit' man behind the wheel of the bus as it pulled up outside a cafe where she was eaasting with friend Ryan Mendelson.
Despite Donna making the hand gesture for 'call me' the driver pulled away, leaving her to try to track him down by leaving her phone number at the bus stop with a big sign - for the driver to find.
The mum of two, 38, told the Manchester Evening News: "I've been on the scene for quite a while and I had downloaded Hinge, that's where the conversation started. Then we sat down outside and this bus pulled up.
"We said 'oh my god, that bus driver is fit'. Ryan tried to flag it down down to get his number for me, but unfortunately the bus went away."
Donna Suter has come forward as the woman behind the 'fit bus driver' note in Whitefield (Image: Donna Suter)
Ryan, 31, tried chasing the bus down the road, then they left a note reading 'HEY FIT BUS DRIVER CALL ME'. They also left a phone number for the driver to call, which Donna says is a specific number Ryan uses for dating apps.
The driver has now got in touch - and it isn't great news for Donna.
She said the driver is 'such a lovely guy' and the pair have got along well since messaging each other. But sadly for Donna, there is no blossoming romance, as the bus driver is already in a relationship.
She said: "After yesterday I've gone into my mailbox and seen a message from him. I know it's him because of his photo.
"He said 'I'm the bus driver, it's me'. But unfortunately, he's taken."
Ryan sticks the note onto the bus stop for Donna (Image: Donna Suter)
And there are no regrets for Donna, whose optimistic attempt at finding love almost worked. She said: "He actually said to me 'you seem an absolutely lovely girl, if I wasn't in a relationship I would have stopped the bus'."
Donna, who has been single for five years and says she hates dating apps, even joked that she might try her luck at 'a train station or the airport next time'. "It's my personality all over," she added.
"Being out there and living life, not following the dating apps, it's not my style. Maybe it will change the way people treat each other in the dating world."
Donna Suter's bold plan almost paid off (Image: Donna Suter)
The driver, who works for Vision Bus but asked not to be named, said his colleagues have 'all been talking about it, guessing who it could be'. "But the finger was pointed at me so I told them it was," he added.
"I've found it highly amusing. I've laughed all week about it."
