A HAMPSHIRE man grew so fed up waiting for a bus he took one and drove it home.

He sneaked into the driver's seat, started up the single decker and piloted it three miles towards his home in a nearby village.

The man then abandoned the vehicle and walked home. Amazingly no one was hurt and no damage was done.

Bus company Stagecoach today launched a review of its security to make sure the incident never happens again.

The Dennis bus, valued at £20,000, was taken from Winchester bus station, pictured above. It had been parked as normal while the driver had a meal break inside the station.

The bus was due to leave on the 10.20pm service to Winnall. Instead it was taken 30 minutes early and driven to the Springvale estate, Kings Worthy, via Lovedon Lane. The police went to Ramsey Road, where the bus had been dumped, at 10.40pm and a man was arrested soon afterwards.

Stagecoach managing director Andrew Dyer said: "It is a mindless thing to do. People not experienced at driving buses could wreak havoc.

"We will be doing a security review. These buses are not the easiest thing to start and drive. It is a mystery how anyone could get it going.

"The question is whether we try to introduce more anti-theft mechanisms. Most of the larger vehicles, and not just Stagecoach's, don't have ignition keys. Whether that is something we need to change will be in the review."

Mr Dyer added: "Your first thought when something like this happens is was anyone hurt and was the bus damaged? I'm pleased to say the answer was no to both."

The police would like to hear from anyone who saw the bus being driven either in the city centre-Worthy Road-London Road-Lovedon Lane route or Easton Lane-A34-Basingstoke Road-Lovedon Lane.

A local man in his 30s was arrested and released on bail.