A BUS driver was head butted by a 32-year-old motorist who thought the bus had pulled out on him without warning, putting his and his seven-year-old daughter's lives in danger.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Michael Baron drove over the kerb and a grass verge to block the bus in as it pulled on to Livesey Branch Road at 9am.

He then forced the bus doors open before launching the attack on the driver.

Baron, of Cockeridge Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Simon Smith causing him actual bodily harm.

He was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence after the magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were insufficient.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said Mr Smith was driving his bus on the Mill Hill route and had pulled over at a stop in Parklands Way. He indicated to pull out but had to wait momentarily.

"As he moved into the flow of traffic he heard a horn sound and looked again to see a blue car trying to squeeze between him and the oncoming traffic," said Mrs White.

"The car was only inches from hitting vehicles coming in the opposite direction."

The bus driver had to stop at the junction with Livesey Branch Road and move out slowly to negotiate the corner.

"As he was making that manoeuvre he saw the blue car drive on to the path and grass verge and drive in front of his bus," said Mrs White.

"The defendant came towards the bus, shouting and screaming Are you some kind of idiot, I've got my seven-year-old daughter in the car?'."

Baron then forced the doors open and approached the driver." Without any warning he head butted him in the face," said Mrs White. "Mr Smith was completely shocked by what happened."

Liz parker, defending, said the bus had pulled out on her client as he was taking his daughter to school.

He was forced on to the wrong side of the road and the bus driver's actions could have caused a serious accident.

"In his own way he was looking after his daughter and this incident was provoked by the bus driver."