POLICE were put on alert following allegations that a schoolgirl had been abducted by the driver of a double-decker bus.

But today the driver was being hailed a hero after it emerged that he had rescued the 13-year-old from a gang of teenagers and driven her home.

The incident occurred in the Beardwood area of Blackburn at about 3.30pm yesterday.

Gulum Mayat, of the Stagecoach Blackburn depot, was driving a double-decker bus on a scheduled school run and spotted the girl surrounded by teenagers at a bus stop.

He calmed her down and then took her home, a Stagecoach spokesman said.

Police interviewed him and established that he had in fact stepped in to save a young girl in distress.

And they are to speak to the girls who made the abduction claim today. John Young, operations manager at the Blackburn depot, said that the girl was being heckled by the gang as she tried to get on the bus.

"She was quite upset and Gulum shut the doors and said he would take her home. He reassured her that she was safe then ran her home on a normal route.

"We always tell our drivers that the safety of passengers is of paramount importance and in this case Gulum clearly took it to heart. He acted in the best possible way and we are very proud of him," he said.

Sergeantt John Rigby, of Blackburn police, said kidnap claims against the driver had proved to be false.

"The driver was questioned and the matter quickly resolved after the allegations proved to be false.

"We are investigating the matter and will be questioning the youngsters involved," he said.

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