POLICE have praised a bus company which alerted officers after one of its drivers got behind the wheel while three times the drink drive limit.

David Thompson, 55, pleaded guilty to drink driving after being breath tested at the roadside in Bridge Street, Accrington, the evening after a drinking session.

Hyndburn magistrates, who adjourned sentencing him so a detailed report could be compiled, were told that the alarm had been raised by a concerned passenger telephoning the police.

But today police revealed that Thompson, of Princess Street, Colne, was stopped after the woman caller contacted his bosses at Burnley and Pendle Travel Limited, who passed on the information to officers.

Thompson failed the roadside test at 5.20pm on Monday and was taken to Blackburn police station where he gave an alcohol reading of 91. The legal is 35.

And Inspector Phil Cottam of Accrington Police said: "Burnley and Pendle Transport are one of our partners in road safety and crime and disorder initiatives and this incident identified the positive steps that are being taken."

"This was done in order to maintain the safety of people using public transport and the company should be commended for that."

Police have backed the introduction of measures aimed at improving road safety which involve the area's buses. A number of buses now include CCTV cameras. Mr Cottam added: "We obviously do not condone drink driving in any way shape or form and this matter is now being looked into by the courts. It is also the subject of the bus company's own internal disciplinary procedure."

Thompson's case was adjourned until March 27.

Graham Parkinson, defending, told magistrates that Thompson, accepted he was some considerable amount over the drink driving limit having had a lot of alcohol to drink the previous evening.

He added that the reason for the drinking was due to the enormous amount of stress Thompson had suffered after the recent death of his mother and two close work colleagues.

Thompson has been disqualified from driving pending magistrates' decision on his sentence.