A BUS driver has been been charged with racially abusing an elderly passenger.

The 72-year-old woman from Darwen was allegedly sworn at after boarding a Lancashire United bus in the town centre before the driver got on board.

The incident allegedly happened after the driver returned to discover she was on the vehicle.

Bus driver Clifford Holden, 56, of Marlton Road, Blackburn, has also been suspended on full pay pending an internal investigation.

He has denied racially aggravated threatening behaviour towards a passenger and elected to be tried at Preston Crown Court when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates.

The incident is alleged to have happened in Blackburn Road, Darwen, between 11.30am and 12.30pm, on Thursday, September 20.

The pensioner reported the alleged incident to police when she got home.

Sergeant John Rigby, of Blackburn police's ethnic minorities team, said: "We received a call reporting the incident at 9.36pm on September 20.

"A man was arrested in connection with the incident on September 24.

"He has since been charged with racially aggravated threatening behaviour towards a passenger."

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of committal papers.

Russell Reville, managing director of Lancashire United, said: "The driver has been suspended while the investigation is on-going.

"At this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Mr Reville confirmed Holden had been suspended on full pay as it was "normal procedure" to do so.