Boy, 5, left 10km from home after taking wrong bus

A five-year-old boy who boarded the wrong bus was left on the side of a road 10km from his home.

Matt Holmes, a Year 1 pupil at Tauranga's Oropi School, was allowed to board the first bus run on Wednesday afternoon when he was supposed to get on the second one.

The school today admitted responsibility and said it was "distressed" at what the youngster had to endure, The Bay of Plenty Times reports.

The boy was allowed to get off the bus at Waimapu Service Station - 10km from home. He then tried to walk home.

A member of the public saw him and called police.

His parents Tracey and Trent Holmes say were "horrified" at what had happened. Police told the family they would talk to the school but were unable to lay charges.

- NZPA