A YOUNG woman passenger began spitting at a bus driver and damaged his clothing during an altercation.

Police say the drama unfolded when the woman and a man got on the bus in Valley Drive, Gravesend, opposite St Patrick’s Gardens. The woman said she had lost her purse and said she was unable to pay the fare.

The bus driver recognised the woman from two days earlier when she had also claimed she didn't have any money and he reminded her of this.

But the woman and the man still sat down in the bus and refused to get off. After some persuasion, the man did get off and started to walk away but the woman said she would pay.

The woman then became abusive towards the driver, grabbing hold of his body warmer and ripping it and spitting at him.

The man ran back towards the bus, pushed the bus driver and then both he and the woman got off the bus and walked away towards Old Road East.

The incident happened on January 17 at about 12.15pm. The woman is aged between 20-25, 5ft 5in tall, with blonde, shoulder length hair. She was waering jeans and a navy blue coat. A child with her was in a three-wheeled pushchair.

The man is described as white, 5ft 5in tall, of slim build with short, dark brown hair. He was wearing light-coloured tracksuit bottoms and a blue puffa jacket.

Police hoping to identify the couple are urging anyone who was on the bus at the time to contact them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Fleur Anderson at North Kent on 01474 565211 quoting reference 1459 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – calls to this number are free and you may be eligible for a reward.