A woman who sprained her ankle was forced to walk to work because a bus driver refused to count her loose change.

Jodie Smart, 25, from Seven Dials, Brighton, usually enjoys her 40-minute stroll to work but decided to take the bus after hurting her foot.

It was the first time she had taken a bus in Brighton having moved from London two months ago.

But because she could only pay her £1.20 fee in silver and coppers the driver on the number 7 bus in Buckingham Place told her to get off and walk.

She said: "It was the only change I had in my purse. The majority of it was silver but about 30p was in two pence pieces.

"It was really embarrassing. I felt as though everyone was looking at me.

"I had to walk quite quickly on my foot, which was very painful, and all because he couldn't be bothered to count my change."

Ms Smart normally works in Kemp Town for a company which organises hen night parties.

She is also a freelance camera assistant and was working on an episode of The Bill in south London when she dropped a piece of equipment on her foot.

She said: "It just really upset me that it was the first time I had been on a bus in Brighton."

Steve Thomas, garage staff manager at Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, said: "We were concerned to hear of Ms Smart's problem.

"I have spoken to her and explained the difficulties and delays that can be caused when passengers board with large quantities of small change especially on busy peak-hour buses.

"On this occasion our driver was concerned at delaying the bus to count out what appeared to be two handfuls of cash.

"We have apologised to Ms Smart for the inconvenience she experienced."