A SCHOOL bus driver has blamed his rowdy passengers for causing him to miss a red light and cross a level crossing as a train sped towards it.Keith McGeorge, 52, of Castle Street, Woodbridge, pleaded guilty by post to failing to comply with a traffic signal at Melton level crossing.

A SCHOOL bus driver has blamed his rowdy passengers for causing him to miss a red light and cross a level crossing as a train sped towards it.

Keith McGeorge, 52, of Castle Street, Woodbridge, pleaded guilty by post to failing to comply with a traffic signal at Melton level crossing.

He was not present at a hearing today at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court where a statement was read saying he had been distracted by youngsters fighting.

The court heard McGeorge was driving a brown and yellow double-decker bus with around 65 schoolchildren onboard on the afternoon of May 18.

In his statement he said: “There is no discipline on the bus. There was lots of noise and commotion going on and my attention was distracted.

“I slammed the brakes on when I saw the lights but could not stop in time. I had to make a split second decision. I could not reverse so I decided to proceed across the track.”

Mr McGeorge said that as he crossed the track he could see a train approaching but the driver of the train did not have to stop. He said the behaviour of children on his bus run had been reported to Suffolk County Council on several occasions but no action has been taken.

Presiding magistrate Anne Parry adjourned sentencing until November 22, warning that McGeorge may face a driving disqualification.