An Edinburgh mum claims her two-year-old daughter was moments away from a 'nasty fall' after taking a ride on a Lothian Bus.
Steph Harrison-White was left furious after alleging a bus driver sped off before her toddler and aunt were able to take their seats.
The 26-year-old says the bus trip left her aunt Roseann Gladwell, 43, injured and two of her children in floods of tears.
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Lothian Buses confirmed to Edinburgh Live they have launched an investigation into the matter.
The family had spent the evening at Portobello beach enjoying the sunshine on Thursday June 15 when Steph's children, Trey, eight, and Maci, two, left for a sleepover at their aunt's house.
What was meant to be a fun day out took a turn when Roseann and the two kids boarded the 106 East Coast bus in Musselburgh.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Steph, a mum-of-four, said: "My auntie decided to take the two kids back to hers for a sleepover, she stays in Musselburgh and I stay in Niddrie so she got a bus to Brunton Theatre and then got on the 106 at around 6.42pm.
"When they got on, my son Trey, walked to the back of the bus, as he always does, and my daughter Maci started walking after him. The bus wasn't moving then, but just as soon as my auntie showed the driver her ticket and walked up the bus, the driver shut the door straight away and fastly drove off before they got a seat.
"He was so fast, there was a jolt forward and my auntie wrapped her arms around Maci to stop her from falling.
"There's a step in the bus that leads up to the back seats so if she hadn't held her Maci would have fallen face-first onto those steps. I can't describe the fear I felt, her face would have been a mess! She's only two, so she hasn't learned that natural reaction to put your hands out first.
"Luckily my auntie was there and had such a quick reaction but she took the impact and fell."
While the two children cried in shock, she says Roseann was left with a cut and a badly bruised elbow and leg.
Steph continued: "She can barely move her arm now and the pain is going on up to her shoulder. She's going to get it looked at. But I'm worried that it will cause her to lose a day of work, she works in the catering business so you need both hands for that.
"It's awful what she went through, but at the same time, I'm thankful she was there and did what she did because I can't imagine the state my daughter's face would have been in if she hadn't."
The young mum explained that she often relies on buses and usually doesn't have a bad experience but has said she has felt really disappointed on this occasion.
"I just don't know why the driver didn't wait for them to sit down, especially as there were children. And even when she fell and they were crying, the driver didn't check if they were okay or anything. And my daughter has a loud cry, he would have heard it."
A Lothian spokeswoman said: “We have been contacted directly by the individual involved and are carrying out a full investigation into this alleged incident.”
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