A GUNMAN posed as a stranded motorist to flag down a bus then rob the terrified driver.

The driver was forced to hand over his takings and his own wallet after the man pulled out a handgun.

Today his bosses said the man had been left badly shaken and he has been offered counselling.

The driver was the only person on the number 23 Stagecoach service when the robbery happened in Varteg Road, Blaenavon, at 8.45pm on Monday.

Detective Inspector Mike Jones, of Pontypool police, said he had just dropped off his passengers, left the bus terminal at Blaenavon and was approaching the cattle grid near the cemetery when he had to stop because of the red car, described as an old-style Toyota, parked on the road.

A man then stepped onto the bus and threatened the driver with a handgun, fleeing with about £80 in takings and the driver's wallet. The man is described as being in his mid to late 20s, Asian, about 5ft 8in tall, of slim build, with short hair. He was wearing a dark T-shirt and dark jeans.

He got back into the car with another man, described as white, and made off in the Blaenavon direction.

DI Jones said: "If there was a genuine firearm involved, or even a replica, this is a serious incident."

The driver did not want to be interviewed, but John Gould, managing director of Stagecoach in South Wales, said: "He is very badly shaken up. He's only been with us for six months.

"We will be offering him counselling and we'd like to think he'll come back to work for us.

"We find it difficult to believe that a bus driver going about his normal daily work is going to be held up at gunpoint for the sake of about £80.

"People have got to understand that while drivers do handle cash, a lot of the transactions are passengers using bus passes or travelling for no fare. The driver stopped with all the best intentions, because he thought the person had a problem, and then this happens. It's one of those things you don't believe will happen in Blaenavon. I've not come across anything like this happening up there before."

Anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on