A LYE coach driver who crashed on the M5 when he fell asleep at the wheel, has received a 15 month driving ban.

Robert Blakemore was driving a coach packed with families, including around 25 youngsters when it veered into the hard shoulder and down the embankment on August 19 last year.

Stroud Magistrates Court heard how passengers saw Blakemore, aged 60, with his chin resting on his chest and his eyes closed.

As the coach began to veer onto the hard shoulder, passengers screamed and Blakemore struggled to control the wheel.

The vehicle, operated by Prospect Coaches in High Street, Lye, then collided with a barrier and rolled on its side.

Southwest Ambulance Service confirmed that one child and five adults sustained injuries while on the daytrip from West Bromwich to Weston Super Mare, organised by charity Action for Children. The court heard how one passenger broke a bone in her neck and Blakemore, who arrived at court on crutches, broke his leg.

Blakemore, who suffers from diabetes but had been found fit to work, had pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention before arriving in court.

In a police interview Blakemore, of Bedford Street, Wolverhampton, said he had no recollection of the crash and that he had never "blacked out" due to his diabetes.

He said: “All I can say is I don’t know what happened in the crash. If I am disqualified I will lose my job.”

Blakemore must take an extended driving test before regaining his license and was fined £60 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and £85 court costs.