A popular bus company has launched an 'urgent investigation' over claims that some of their drivers have reportedly refused to pick up 'black or brown men'.
Asylum seekers have gone on to claim that drivers from Stagecoach were "not picking up refugees" who were trying to take public transport from their accommodation in North Somerset to Bristol.
On October 2, the accusations came to light when a local resident took to social media to claim that the buses were refusing to allow asylum seekers on board, who were staying in the Holiday Inn at Bristol Airport.
The investigation comes just days after the bus company's initial statement stated that there was "no evidence" to support these allegations.
But a spokesperson has now said the with the "new information" subsequently emerging, they are carrying out an urgent probe.
In a thread, which went viral on Twitter, Angie Bual, a local resident wrote: "Can you help? The Avon and Somerset Police have told me that 'racism is not a crime.'
"@StagecoachSW falcon service has stopped picking up black and brown men at a certain bus stop near me. The drivers accept white passengers. This is apartheid in action."
She continued to write: "Apparently this is because the drivers haven't said anything overtly offensive or been violent. They have said 'I don't take refugees'.
"White people have reported them driving off without brown passengers saying 'they are taking the p**s'. I have photos of valid tickets and the drivers who are responsible.
"Yet the police say that as @stagecoachsw are a private company it's up to them who they take and don't take."
Following the incident, Ms Bual has since set up a private Whatsapp group for carpooling residents to help those allegedly affected travel into the city centre to use amenities.
In fact, there have been several incidents reported to Ms Bual, with the first being from a local resident offering to pay for another resident and it being refused.
Another incident - which involved the police - allegedly saw four men trying to get on the bus with cash being refused by the driver as he had no change. The men then allegedly offered to use the £20 note to pay for all four men, only for the driver to shockingly apparently claim the bus was full - despite there being free seats. Police were then called to the scene, and the men were requested to leave.
The asylum seekers were told then to by the A38 for a Stagecoach West bus, with one man - who was left stranded at the bus stop - saying: "It made me feel bad because we are people.
"Maybe our skin colour is different but we're all the same."
Speaking about this particular incident, a statement from Superintendent Dickon Turner from Avon and Somerset Police said: "There can be no excuse for any form of hate or prejudice in Avon and Somerset and we will always take any offences extremely seriously.
"We were called by a by a driver on 10 September to a payment dispute between them and a number of people trying to board the bus in North Somerset.
"We were told the individuals were trying to pay in cash and the driver said he was unable to accept the payment. Officers attended to prevent a breach of the peace and no offences were reported ay the time or identified."
A third incident occurred on September 27 when a group of seven black and Asian men were allegedly not let on to a bus at Bristol coach station, with the driver apparently saying he would "not take refugees."
Since, Ms Bual has reported her concerns to both Stagecoach SW and the Avon and Somerset Police. She has also claimed she was horrifyingly told that Stagecoach is a "private company", so "it's up to them who they take and don't take."
Mike Watson, the managing director of Stagecoach South West, has commented on the incidents.
He said: "We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind or unacceptable behaviour, whether that involves an employee or any customer seeking to use our services.
"In the past 24 hours, we have been made aware of new detailed complaints regarding the alleged behaviour of some employees operating Falcon services."
Mr Watson continued that they have launched an inquiry, saying: "We can confirm we have launched an urgent investigation into the specific circumstances involved.
"We will not hesitate to take any necessary disciplinary action where our values and people's right to equal access to our services have not been upheld."
