A DRIVER who smashed a double-decker bus into a bridge at a packed York Racecourse has been suspended.

Michael Light, a driver with Leeds-based Hunter's Coaches Ltd, was told he was to blame for crashing the bus while carrying 16 catering workers to the Timeform charity meeting in June.

And he was told his licence to drive double-decker buses would be suspended from January next year, and only returned if he passed an advanced bus driving test.

At a Traffic Commissioner's public inquiry, Mr Light claimed that race stewards had directed him towards the bridge, and poor visibility in the cab of the bus meant he did not see the 10ft 3in bridge - more than four feet lower than his bus.

But North East Commissioner Tom Macartney said: "Mr Light's negligence caused the collision with the bridge.

"The excuses he has given ... have to be balanced against the fact that there was a bridge warning sign on the bridge and brightly coloured banners.

"He did not display the professional competence that would have been expected."

None of the 16 passengers was seriously injured, although all suffered shock and were unable to work.

But the upper deck of the bus had been peeled back by the impact.

The commissioner had also been told that Mr Light had been charged for travelling without enough rest periods three days before the accident at York racecourse.

He had been fined £250 by Selby Magistrates.

Mr Macartney heard that on other occasions a Hunter's coach had been found with a defective tyre in Bridlington, and another had a defective speed limiter.

But he was told of efforts that were being made to improve the company, and was given assurances of extra work that would be carried out, including increased training and vehicle checks.

Mr Macartney said: "I have been impressed by how they have put remedial measures in place, and they have happily put forward undertakings.

"I feel it appropriate ... to make a formal warning that, if the company does come back to a public inquiry for similar problems, I would have to take it extremely seriously."

Updated: 10:52 Tuesday, November 27, 2001