Off the buses!

| Wednesday, 11 May 2005 Source: Sunderland Echo

A BUS driver has been sacked after he turned up at work drunk.

Alan Brettwood, who works for Go North East, was tested by bosses at work on Thursday and found to be over the legal limit for driving.

He was dismissed as the company moved to ensure the safety of Sunderland's bus passengers.

But Mr Brettwood, who stood as a British National Party council candidate, is fighting to save his job and reputation.

He appealed against the company's decision and an official disciplinary inquiry is now under way.

Bus bosses today said the driver was found to be over the legal drink-driving limit – which is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath or 80 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

Last year, bosses introduced random alcohol tests at work, and said workers were in no doubt they would face tough action if in breach of official policies.

They said they could not comment further on the matter until the disciplinary process was completed.

Mr Brettwood, who lived in Tennyson Street until recently, was voted for by 698 people in Southwick in Sunderland's 2004 council elections, behind the ward's three elected Labour councillors.

He remains an active BNP member and was at a rally last month when party leader Nick Griffin visited Sunderland.

Martin Harris, commercial director at Go North East, said today: "The driver concerned has appealed against our decision, and until the full disciplinary procedure has been exhausted, we can make no further comment."

Mr Brettwood, who still lives in Southwick, was unavailable for comment.