Book reading bus driver faces sacking

A bus driver is facing dismissal after he was filmed apparently reading a book at the wheel.

National Express West Midlands said the driver, who has not been named, was suspended after footage of the incident was posted on the internet.

The company was alerted to the alleged misconduct on Tuesday after a passenger filmed the driver in Birmingham on Monday.

The footage appears to show the driver flicking through the pages of a book while driving along a dual carriageway in the south of the city, oblivious to the fact that he is being filmed.

No complaint was made directly to the bus company.

It is understood that the footage was shot on a service operating between the Selly Oak and Northfield areas of Birmingham at about 8pm on Monday.

In a statement, a spokesman for National Express West Midlands said: "Immediate action was taken to suspend the driver, who will now face disciplinary action.

"It is not appropriate to predict the outcome but an incident of this type is likely to lead to a dismissal.

"Passenger safety is always our priority and it is completely unacceptable for any driver to behave in this manner."