A quizmaster is demanding answers after he was left stranded when the last bus due to leave a market town failed to turn up.

Simon Clee said he was left stranded, alongside two other would-be passengers, in Dereham after hosting the weekly quiz at the town’s Wetherspoon pub The Romany Rye.

He normally takes the no 8 bus from Dereham’s marketplace into Norwich, before getting the X44 to Cromer.

The lack of the last bus on Monday, March 11 meant he had to pay £40 to a taxi driver to get him back to his Cromer home.

The 66-year-old, who previously worked as the night manager at the pub, has accused Konectbus of neglecting its customers.

He said: “When we were waiting, a number 11 bus arrived, and someone ran over and asked what happened to the 8 and the driver said ‘I don’t think they have a driver’".

Dereham Times: The Romany Rye, Wetherspoon, in DerehamThe Romany Rye, Wetherspoon, in Dereham (Image: Google Maps)

“If Konect knew they were not running a bus, it should have called a taxi rank and got them to take people to Norwich.

“But, to do nothing when it is the last bus and people have no alternative, to say nothing, and not to respond to the email is rude.

“To receive nothing from them, it just annoyed me, if you have got a problem with a service you are offering to the public then you give them an explanation.”

Dereham Times: A scene from a pub quiz in NorwichA scene from a pub quiz in Norwich (Image: Bill Smith)

Davina Langley, head of commercial and marketing at Go East Anglia, said: "Due to on the day driver sickness, a few of our bus services were unfortunately cancelled on Monday and one of these was the Dereham to Norwich service.

"All last-minute delays and cancellations are posted on our website and app to inform our passengers and this information was shared by our controllers early that morning. We also provided information on an alternative route 4 which passengers could use to travel back to Dereham.

"We actively encourage all our passengers to check the Konectbus app and website before they travel to check for any changes to the bus services on that day.

Dereham Times: Konectbus said that due to on-the-day driver sickness, a few of its bus services were unfortunately cancelled on Monday and one of these was the Dereham to Norwich serviceKonectbus said that due to on-the-day driver sickness, a few of its bus services were unfortunately cancelled on Monday and one of these was the Dereham to Norwich service (Image: IAN BURT)

 

Mr Clee would now like to see electronic boards installed at the bus shelters in Dereham, similar to those seen in Norwich.