A BUS driver was racially abused after an incident on the Activ8 bus at the weekend.

Police say the incident took place at around 9am on Sunday morning.

The bus, which runs from Andover to Salisbury via Amesbury, pulled over on Castle Street, in Salisbury, when the driver became aware that a dog belonging to a man on the top deck had “been sick and had gone to the toilet” in the bus.

As the vehicle pulled over, the owner of the dog came downstairs and verbally and racially abused the driver in an aggressive manner, officers say.

Two passengers then chased the man away while another spoke to the bus driver to provide reassurance.

Police are now appealing for witnesses following the incident.

The man accused of abusing the driver is described as white, approximately 5ft 5ins tall with blonde hair and a blonde beard.

He was wearing a brown or olive green jacket and brown trousers and had a white dog with him.

PC Lou Poole said: “We think there were around six or seven people on board the bus at the time, who are potential witnesses and may be able to significantly help with our enquiries.

“There is also likely to have been people in the street who may have witnessed the man shouting at the driver prior to being chased away.”

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote crime reference number 54200053938.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.