A 12-year-old girl, who lost her Oyster card on the way home from school, was slapped with an £80 penalty fare and kicked off the bus by a driver.

Madi Charles mislaid her 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard when she was travelling by bus from her Sidcup school to her home in Orpington.

Mum Pippa Charles ordered a replacement and said Transport for London (TfL) advised her to print the email confirmation to show to bus drivers as they waited for the card to arrive.

But during the three days it took for the card to be delivered, Madi was thrown off the bus by a driver and a ticket inspector handed her an £80 fine.

Mrs Charles, 42, who works in the publishing industry, told News Shopper: "I was absolutely shocked she was thrown off the bus.

"She is a child. She was absolutely beside herself. I was just so angry."

Despite a teacher stepping in to explain to the bus driver that Madi had a new Oyster card on order, he refused to let her board.

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Mum Pippa Charles with daughter Madi Charles

The Year 7 Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School pupil travels the seven-mile journey to school each day using the R11 and 51 bus routes.

All children aged 11 to 15 years can get a Zip Oyster photocard to travel free on London buses and trams to and from school.

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Mrs Charles, who lives on Cloonmore Avenue with her daughter and husband Chris, added: "The amount of trouble she had to go through in three days.

"It’s a very grainy area with no set standards.

"This must happen all the time.

"Children lose their passes."

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Stock photo: London bus

Mrs Charles appealed against her daughter’s fine, which was refused on the grounds of the option to purchase a Child rate Day or Three Day Travelcard.

She says she was not once advised by TfL that this was an option and that staff at a local newsagent on Windsor Drive told her they were not aware such a card existed.

Not long after News Shopper contacted TfL for comment, a full refund was agreed and an apology issued to the family.

Transport for London’s Director of Customer Experience, Shashi Verma, said: "Anyone using our concessionary travel does need to have a valid pass to travel but we agree that a penalty fare should not have been issued here.

"So we will be cancelling the penalty fare and will apologise to Mrs Charles and Madi for the worry this has caused."

A Transport for London spokesman advised any parents who find themselves waiting for a replacement Zip Oyster to buy a pay-as-you-go Oyster to use until the new card arrives.