A BUS driver taking children to school in Cardigan was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.

David Wyndham Evans of Maesglas, Cardigan, was dropping off children at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi at 8.35am on Monday, February 22.

At the time, police and officers of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency were conducting checks on buses at Victoria Gardens.

Evans was on his own in the Richard Bros 57-seater bus when police officers spoke to him at the junction leading to Gwbert Road from Victoria Gardens.

Officers smelt intoxicants on his breath and he continually held his hands in front of his mouth, commenting that it was a cold morning.

Evans, aged 55, who was said to have a long, unblemished driving record, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with excess alcohol at Cardigan magistrates court.

Prosecutor Peter Lloyd said Evans provided a positive roadside breath test tests at Cardigan Police Station which showed he had 76 micrograms of alcohol in his breath.

The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

He declined to comment when he was later charged.

Defence solicitor Ian Harris said Evans had paid a heavy price in that he was instantly dismissed and would have to go away, perhaps as far as Cardiff, to gain employment.

Passing sentence, presiding magistrate Caroline Whitehead said: "As a professional driver you should have been aware of your responsibility.

"It's a great shame that your unblemished record should end in such a fashion.

"We were shocked that the reading was so high when you were driving a school bus."

Evans was fined £405 with £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

He was also disqualified from driving for 22 months.