A BUS driver who forced schoolchildren to dive for cover when he smashed into a low bridge had forgotten it was a double decker, a court was told.

And today transport bosses confirmed that Mohammed Abbas has been demoted to driving minibuses since the accident last October.

Twenty two St Wilfrid's High School pupils narrowly escaped serious injury when the roof of the bus was peeled off as it went under a low bridge in Galligreaves Street, Blackburn.

Blackburn magistrates were told the incident could have been far more serious if a 14-year-old girl on the top deck had not seen what was about to happen and shouted "duck" to her friends, many of whom suffered cuts and bruises and shock.

Abbas, 44, of Dartford Close, Blackburn, admitted driving without due care and attention and was fined £1,000 with £30 costs.

The court was told that all the children who suffered injury or shock as a result of the incident are pursuing claims for compensation from the bus operator, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Transport, through the civil courts.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said the bus had picked up the children after school to take them home. Abbas told police he had only driven the route three or four times in the previous seven years.

Miss Fanning said the driver had asked an 11-year-old girl if he was taking the correct route and she had told him she did not know.

The court heard that the bus was 4.8 metres high and the bridge 3.8 metres. There was a sign indicting the bridge height on the approach and one fixed to the bridge itself. There was also a sign inside the bus indicating its height.

Miss Fanning said that when interviewed Abbas told police: "At the time I thought I was in a single decker. Had I realised I was in a double decker I would have stopped."

David Kitchen, defending, said Abbas had been driving buses for 17 years and this was his first accident.

"It is every bus driver's nightmare," said Mr Kitchen.

He said Abbas had been restricted to driving single decker buses for 12 months as punishment and this would reduce his earnings by approximately £45 a week.

James Hilton, bus company operations director, said Abbas has been demoted to driving mini-buses. He said he went off sick after the crash but returned to work at the end of February.

David White, acting head of St Wilfrid's, said: "The students involved all had a very lucky escape. It's something that they will keep with them for the rest of their lives.

"It is sad that the whole thing happened, but we are pleased that it's finished."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.