PARENTS of a three-year-old Greenock boy whose head was split open on a local bus have blamed the driver for causing the fall which has left him permanently scarred.

Little Shane Haxton started nursery today with three stitches in his head and bad bruising after an incident on a McGill’s bus on Monday morning.

Mum Annmarie McKinnon says the youngster had just got on the bus with dad Andy and was heading to the only available seat near the back when the vehicle abruptly pulled away.

Little Shane was thrown forward and smashed his head off the stairs at the back of the bus, leaving him covered in blood and badly shaken.

Annmarie, 32, who works as a home support worker, said: “Shane has now been left with a big scar — and he’s only three. He had to get stitches to close the wound.

“I’m upset at what happened. It was such a shock when I saw him.” McGill’s bosses say a full investigation is now underway and have wished Shane a speedy recovery.

But mum Annmarie contacted the Tele to vent her anger at the driver for the way he dealt with the accident.

She says he simply carried on driving, despite passengers on the packed Slaemuir to Greenock service rushing to the boy’s aid, using tissues to try and halt the blood pouring from the tot’s forehead.

His dad Andy was simply told to put in a complaint and the boy’s family say they are now seeking legal advice.

Annmarie said: “The bus driver didn’t give him a chance to get on the bus before jolting off. That’s what caused Shane to fall and split his head.

“The driver just turned around and said ‘put in a complaint’ and drove off — the boy was crying covered in blood.

“I’m annoyed about the bus driver’s attitude — it stank frankly. I understand they have a schedule to stick to but Shane’s dad was still trying to get ticket from the machine when he pulled away. He just didn’t care.

“I get on well with quite a lot of the McGill’s drivers and if he had shown a bit of compassion I wouldn’t have had to do this. Even if he asked how Shane was that would have been something.

“It could have been another child or an elderly person.

“I hope he reads this and thinks about what happened, then have some decency in the future so this doesn’t happen again.” McGill’s say the driver’s version of events are different to Annmarrie’s, but have launched a full investigation and are looking at CCTV footage.

Bosses say they are not treating the matter lightly and have wished Shane a speedy recovery.

Ralph Roberts, the company’s managing director, said: “We are taking this very seriously and are fully investigating.

“We regret that young Shane has cut his head whilst on one of our buses and hope that he makes a speedy recovery with no lasting damage. We will, of course, make further contact with his parents as soon as our investigation is complete.”