TOP coach driver from York has just missed out on being crowned UK coach driver of the year by a mistaken one-inch parking manoeuvre.

Nick Barker, 32, from Acomb, drives the famous coach painted with scenes of York including the Minster, Clifford's Tower and Castle Museum, for Eddie Browns coach company based in Helperby.

Last weekend he came a close second place after making a one-inch parking mistake while reversing into a yellow box in a competition to find the best coach driver in the country at the UK Coach Rally in Brighton.

Nick, who won the title in 1997, said: "One of the last manoeuvres was to reverse into a yellow box and was I literally one inch out. But the points deducted for the mistake was enough to make me lose.

"I was annoyed - but I'll try again next year."

The winner had 80 points deducted for faults and Nick came a close runner-up with 100 points.

Nick added: "It's a really nerve-wracking competition. About 1,000 people were watching and I was competing with 72 really good drivers."

Nick's boss, Philip Brown, is delighted with his performance. He said: "It's a pleasure to work with someone who drives so well and he lost to a good driver."

Meanwhile the brightly-painted bus has won an award of its own. At the same event the coach was pronounced the best in it class.

Nick said: "We are delighted because the coach is 11 months old and it was competing against brand spanking new coaches.

"The coach still attracts a lot of attention and people always turn their heads to look at the paintings of York."