A COACH driver has been sacked after shocking pictures emerged appearing to show him completing a sudoku puzzle while driving children to school.

An investigation was launched after a pupil of Ferndown Upper School took the damning pictures of a Cavendish Liner driver earlier this week.

The coach firm have been praised for their quick response in dealing with the driver, who was immediately suspended, made the subject of a disciplinary process and then subsequently left the company.

They acted after receiving photos of the driver and complaints from Ferndown Upper School and from parents of pupils at the school.

Gary Bulgin, director of operations at Cavendish Liners, said: “There was an incident with a driver and that driver has since left the employment of the company. We did receive a complaint from the school but they have since told us that this has been resolved to their satisfaction. We take children’s safety very seriously and we were horrified when we saw the photos.”

And Cindy Lalani, business manager at Ferndown Upper School, said: “Parents contacted us to let us know what had happened. They contacted the bus company and copied us in on that and we contacted the bus company too.

“It was obviously a shock to us but we feel that the bus company took prompt and assertive action, which we are very happy with.

“They dealt with it immediately and we are completely satisfied with the way they did this. As far as we are aware, they suspended him immediately, a disciplinary procedure followed and a decision was made to dismiss the driver. “They have delivered a good service to us for many years and I’m sure they will continue to do so.”