A 38-year-old bus driver was caught on film playing on a mobile PlayStation and texting his girlfriend while driving his vehicle, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Stephen Alcock also had a radio and an earpiece in his ear during the journey, along snow-covered roads in March.

The court was told a passenger who boarded the bus in Accrington saw Alcock using the portable PlayStation while they were waiting at the depot.

But to his amazement Alcock continued to play games throughout the journey to Blackburn, whenever the vehicle halted at stops or traffic lights.

The passenger also saw Alcock using his mobile phone and made a complaint to Blackburn Transport as soon as he got home.

The court heard that managers viewed the bus's CCTV footage, which confirmed everything the passenger had said.

Alcock, of Selborne Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.

He was banned for six months and fined £200 with £30 costs.

The court was told that Alcock lost his job with Blackburn Transport immediately after the incident and had subsequently been banned for holding a public service vehicle licence by the traffic commissioner.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the passenger's concerns had been heightened by the atrocious road conditions on the day of the offence.

"You can't say there was anything specifically wrong with the driving, but the defendant was not paying full attention to the road," said Miss Allan.

"These were clearly not the actions expected of a professional driver with responsibility for a number of passengers.

Alcock, who was not represented by a solicitor, said it had been "tough" for him after the incident was reported in the media.

He said he had been unable to look for driving jobs with the court case hanging over him and had been working as a chef until he was made redundant last week.