SEVERAL passengers were injured when a bus driver slammed on his brakes as he was pestered by youths, a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard Simon Farnworth, 30, suffered a lapse in concentration when one youth had his hand in the driver's cab and the bell was being rung constantly.

Farnworth, then working for Burnley and Pendle Travel lost his job with the company the day after the incident last May 20.

The defendant, of Eastham Street, Burnley, admitted driving without due care and attention. He was fined £130, given four penalty points and ordered to pay £75 costs.

Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, told the court the defendant was driving the Number 25 service in Burnley when the bell was being rung constantly.

He told the culprits to stop. Farnworth had a run-in with two youths. As he pulled up past Brennand Street, near the Queensgate stop and was doing about 10mph. he slammed on his brakes.

Passengers either fell over or out of their seats and several had to go to hospital to be treated for their injuries.

Lyn Whaites, defending, said Farnworth had held a clean driving licence since 1989 and his behaviour was very much out of character.

He had learned a hard lesson and because the defendant had pleaded guilty and was of good character, the bench could impose penalty points only.

Farnworth, who was also a trained chef as well as having his PSV licence, had lost his job with the bus company the day after the offence. He now wanted to retrain and go into the media. The defendant had outstanding credit cards debts which he was working very hard to pay off.

Once they were paid off, Farnworth was, hopefully, going to go into further education.