Furious passengers were left huddled in the cold at a bus stop for almost an hour after five scheduled buses failed to show up.

Passengers waiting for the 5B from Hangleton Way to Patcham watched as buses filed up the hill, but none made the return journey for an hour.

Now the bus copmpany has ordered an investigation into the delays which happened on Friday morning.

Paul Williams, operations manager of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company has promised to carry out an investigation admitting that "for anybody to have to wait an hour for a bus is unforgivable."

In the company's defence he said buses had been considerably affected by road closures in the aftermath of flooding and many had been forced to divert from their usual routes and when they managed to make it to a bus stop they were stymied by other traffic following the same diversions.

But such excuses brought cold comfort to the stranded passengers.

One mother-of-two held up became distraught because she was trying to get home to nurse her son who had been sent home from school after suffering an asthma attack.

Tina March, of Ruskin Place, Hove, says the timetabled 8.56am 5B did not arrive until 9.49am.

When she complained to the bus company, Mrs March was told the buses were running late because of heavy traffic congestion.

She said: "I find this totally unacceptable. In this day and age you would think they could work out a way to make sure the buses run on time.

"I'm also asthmatic and it doesn't help standing in the cold. There was one girl who was going to be really late for work and there were pensioners. It's not fair that they should have to wait in the cold.

"I was really worried about Adam. "I was desperate to get back home to him.

"I phoned the customer care line, though why they call it that I don't know.

"I spoke to a woman who said I couldn't have missed five buses. I stood there. She didn't.

"She was constantly blaming traffic conjestion but that is just passing the buck.

"I understand they have problems but this is ridiculous."