THE driver of a bus which hit a 91-year-old woman on a pedestrian crossing at Bolton bus station has been disqualified from driving buses for a year.

As well as the ban, Adrian Bass has had his professional driving licence revoked by a hearing of the traffic commissioners.

In April, Bass was found guilty of driving without due care and attention by Bolton Magistrates in April, after they heard that pensioner Dora Birch had to have her leg amputated following the incident on November 2 last year.

Bass was completing a 180 degree turn, driving the double-decker out of one exit of the bus station and then back into the next entrance when he hit Mrs Birch, who was stood on the pedestrian crossing.

Magistrates fined him £130 and gave him three penalty points on his licence and ordered him to pay £750 costs.

During the court case, magistrates heard that Mrs Birch had been left “absolutely devastated” by the incident. She said Bass had “ruined what years of life she has left”.

Now 41-year-old Bass, of Windermere Road in Farnworth, has been disqualified from driving buses for a year as well as having his professional driving licence revoked after a hearing at the traffic commissioner’s office in Golborne, Wigan.

The matter was reported to the office by Bass’s former employer, First, who provided CCTV footage of the incident at the bus interchange in Blackhorse Street.

Deputy traffic commissioner Patrick Mulvenna was shown the footage that revealed the woman was on the crossing before Bass turned into the bus depot.

Mr Mulvenna concluded that an offence of this kind, leading to a serious injury, indicated that Bass had fallen short of the professional standards required of someone holding a licence to drive buses and coaches professionally.

The First group had previously terminated his employment after reviewing the footage and Bass had subsequently been driving for South Lancashire Travel before the traffic commissioner’s ruling.

He must now apply for the restoration of his vocational licence before he can drive a bus or coach again. He may also appeal the current decision.