A bus driver was hauled out of his seat because staff at a Colliers Wood day centre whose elderly clients he was about to take home considered him too intoxicated to drive.

The man, hired by Merton Council through an agency, was preparing to drive the bus at about 3pm on Monday, July 8, when staff at Woodland Day Centre decided he had drunk too much to transport the pensioners.

Declan Carroll, of Central and Cecil Housing Trust which runs the Cavendish Road centre, said staff found the man to be unfit to drive.

"We would not do anything to put our clients at risk, the driver looked intoxicated and we were not prepared to let this man drive the bus. He was reported by staff from the day centre to the council transport manager and the bus didn't leave the site until a replacement driver was found."

The elderly passengers had been enjoying a range of activities at the centre during the morning and were preparing to go home.

Merton Council's transport manager, Helen Catling, said a supervisor and replacement driver were immediately sent to the centre.

"There was an incident at Woodland Day Centre when a driver, who is supplied to us through an agency, appeared to have consumed alcohol. We immediately sent a supervisor and a replacement driver to the centre and the replacement driver transported the elderly people home safely.

"The agency driver was immediately told that he would not be permitted to work for us again and we informed his agency of the allegation and outcome.

"We have always had a very good relationship with the agency and this is the first time there has been a problem of this nature. We are satisfied that it was a one-off incident."

July 17, 2002 11:30