Right or wrong?

Nine months pregnant Joanne Uzzell, had to walk home to Pokesdown after her two-year-old daughter Molly started crying on a bus.

The Echo website has been inundated with comments in support of the mother and almost equal numbers have spoken out in support of the bus driver.

The story has been taken up by the national papers and discussed on the television.

Many parents have spoken out in support and sympathy for Mrs Uzzell, while the bus company Wilts & Dorset is standing by the driver.

Amanda from Bournemouth wrote on the website: "To say the mother is not controlling her child is completely unjust.

"A child having a tantrum is near on impossible to control.

"I've had three of them and unless you've been in that no-win situation you cannot possibly comprehend the utter misery you feel.

"That said I believe the best situation was to exit the bus so the child could be given a chance to cool down but perhaps the driver could have sympathised a bit more with the mother and offered her a travel card at the time?"

Chris from Charminster said: "The driver should be sacked for lack of professionalism."

But Jamie Unwin from Westbourne disagrees. He said: "If I was the driver I would have done exactly the same. If the mother can't control her kid she should stay at home."

Steve from Moordown said: "If Wilts & Dorset buses take any action against him, every other bus driver will think more than twice about stopping in any similar situation, possibly placing their passengers and the public in danger."

Brian from Winton said: "Having driven buses for 25 years I truly understand what this driver is going through. The behaviour of the travelling public is getting worse and drivers always bear the brunt of it."

Marketing manager for Wilts & Dorset Chris Harris said: "Our driver acted quite reasonably in asking the lady if there was anything she could do to pacify the child. He never told her to get off the bus she decided to do that herself. He has a responsibility to his passengers, other road users, pedestrians and cyclists."

But parents feel that Mrs Uzzell - who has not received any payment from the Daily Echo or national newspapers - was unfairly treated.

Bournemouth Borough Councillor Claire Smith, who has a two-year-old child herself, said: "It is dreadful. Where was the care for that pregnant woman and her unborn child?

"I do have sympathy for bus drivers. They should not have to drive with people drinking, swearing or fighting on the bus but a toddler crying comes with the territory."

Mum of 13 Tracey Lewis from Talbot Village said: "No mother wants to be shown up in public. From my experience the terrible twos is the worst age.

"I think the bus driver needs to have a bit more consideration."

How to deal with those tantrums...

So what should you do with a toddler having a tantrum on the bus?

Mum-of-two Susan Durant from Springbourne Family Support Project said: "The usual advice for dealing with toddlers' tantrums is to get down to their level, take hold of their arms and to speak to them very quietly.

Do not be aggressive but try to calm the situation down.

Another thing is to try and distract them, give them something else to do, talk to them about something else or give them a drink. It is not easy."