Marissa Fedina has lodged an appeal on behalf of her son, Marcus

A schoolboy was marched off a bus and handed over to police after forgetting his travelcard as he was dressed in a Red Nose Day outfit for a fundraiser.

Marcus Fadina was handed an £80 fine when he failed to produce his Zip Oyster card, which allows him to travel for free. The 11-year-old, from Dagenham in Essex, was reduced to tears during the distressing incident but Transport for London (TfL) are refusing to retract the penalty.

"He got scared, he thought they were going to arrest him," Marcus' mother Marissa told a local paper.

The pupil, who attends St Margaret's CoE Primary, usually keeps his buss pass with his school uniform but was wearing fancy dress as part of a charity fundraiser for Red Nose Day.

Marissa has since lodged two appeals to TfL and is still awaiting the outcome.

A TfL spokesperson said: "Young people are only permitted to travel for free if they are in possession of a valid Zip Oyster photocard. Otherwise, they must pay the correct fare.

"A bus driver may issue a vulnerable or distressed passenger with an unpaid fare notice which will permit them to travel and pay later within five days."

The spokesperson added the Independent Appeals Service rejected the first stage appeal as Marcus was not holding any type of valid ticket for travel.

UPDATE: A TfL spokesperson said: “Clearly it is vital that every passenger with a discounted or Zip Oystercard ensures that they are carrying it when they travel on our services. However on the basis of the information supplied to us in this particular case we have decided to uphold the passenger’s appeal.”