A DARWEN actor who has appeared in hit TV shows has gone back to his bus driver routes for his new project.

Tim Paley, 48, who has featured in well-known shows such as Phoenix Nights, ITV soaps Emmerdale and Heartbeat, has made a one-off appearance for a short film to be distributed among bus drivers across the county.

Tim, a former bus driver from Marsh House, Darwen, was approached by Lancashire County Council's Safer Travel Unit in the summer to star in a film to create better drivers throughout the country.

Tim, who is currently working for Capita's transport department, plays character Frank Foster in the training DVD Frank Foster Superstar?' which is aimed at 4,000 bus drivers.

He said he agreed to do the film for the council because he enjoys acting work whether it is for an educational DVD, TV show or film.

The film is the latest in a series of innovations pioneered in Lancashire by the county council's Safer Travel Unit to improve travelling on public transport.

And it is a part of a drive by the Driving Standards Agency to ensure all professional bus, coach and lorry drivers hold a Certificate of Professional Competence in addition to their vocational driving licence.

Tim said: "We filmed the DVD over the summer.

"I completed my part in three half days. I was a bus driver for 10 years. This film deals with problems bus drivers face including anti-social behaviour and how to handle people."

Rick Wilson, Lancashire County Council Safer Travel Unit manager, said: "This is the first time anything like this has been done on this scale in the UK and we have been amazed by the enthusiasm that's been shown so far."