The mother of a schoolgirl who was harassed on a bus in Wigan has thanked a kind passenger who saved her.
The teenager was riding a bus into Leigh on the evening of November 13 when she was approached by a man.
The 15-year-old, who was alone at the time, said the passenger stared at her until she moved her bag from the next seat.
Not wanting to appear rude, the teenager allowed the man to sit beside her, despite the bus being nearly empty.
The year 11 pupil said the man got close to her face, repeatedly called her “love” and made her feel "scared”.
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He then started to nudge his knee against her.
At this point, a woman sat nearby noticed the girl appeared uncomfortable and intervened.
She tapped the youngster on the shoulder and told her to get off the bus with her.
Despite not having reached her destination, the teen alighted the bus with the woman passenger.
The woman then walked with the girl, who was on her way to fireworks display at the time, until she was with her friends and safe at Leigh bus station.
Her mother told the Manchester Evening News : “She was so upset.
“She was in her uniform; she was clearly a child.
“It makes it worse in my eyes.”
The 35-year-old posted about the incident to a local Facebook group in a bid to track down the woman passenger, who has now been identified.
The post has racked up almost 1,000 likes and nearly 100 comments.
The girl's mum, from Atherton, added: “It really scared her.
“He was stood looking at her; he didn’t even ask her if he could sit there. He just stood looking for her to move her bag.
“He started to get really close with his face coming right up to her.
“He stunk of alcohol.
“She lacks confidence and always has.
“Lockdown hasn’t helped but since restrictions have eased, she’s started growing in confidence.
“This time last year she would have never got on the bus herself as she worries.
“So I’ve been really proud of how confidence she’s been getting on a bus alone.
“This has just made her think, ‘Oh my God, the reasons I always worry were right’.
“I was really angry.
“I was relieved the lady was there. It’s really nice.”
