ONE of Hampshire's main ferry operators has launched an inquiry after an 11-year-old boy was left stranded miles from home because he didn't have a ticket.

Steven Walker had been on a cinema trip with two friends, but when they all tried to catch the late afternoon ferry home his ticket had fallen out of his pocket.

An appeal to Hythe ferry's ticket collector allegedly resulted in a brusque reply: "That's your problem, not mine."

Steven was stranded penniless in Southampton, but luckily he had his new mobile phone and could contact his mother Julie at home in Dibden Purlieu to ask for help.

Steven's friends Ryan Hyde, 12, and Sam Hayller 14, stayed with him until help arrived, even though they could have caught the last boat home.

Now Julie Walker is demanding a change in policy from White Horse Ferries which runs the 12-minute route from Hythe Pier to Town Quay.

She wants to ensure that no other child is put in the same position as her son.

"I have been investigating on the Internet to see if it is even legal for them to act as they did towards a minor," she said at her home in Fernlea Way.

"Why didn't they just take his name and address?

"I would have happily paid again rather than have him stuck on the other side of Southampton Water.

"He was very distressed when he phoned me.

"They had told him it was his problem, not theirs.

"He was shocked that grown-ups would behave like that.

"One of the ferry chaps was young so I suppose he would act tough, but the other man was older and might even be a father himself.

"I am very disappointed that Hythe ferry people would act that way to a young lad.

"It seemed such a nice safe trip for a youngster during the holidays but I would think twice about letting Steven go again," she said.

Lloyd Lay of White Horse Ferries said a full investigation had been carried out into the 5.20pm incident on Good Friday.

"Our policy is the same as any other form of public transport - no ticket, no ride," he said.

"This boy didn't tell us he had no money left to buy another ticket. He just went off with his mates.

"We do get a lot of kids whose favourite game is to try to get away with cheating the system.

"But our experienced skippers are told to use their discretion as well. We would not leave a child in a dangerous situation, at night or without someone older to take care of him or her."