A SPRIGHTLY pensioner has been forced to abandon his school bus routes because he is too old.

Ernest Fidoe has been on the school run for 15 years, but on reaching his 70th birthday, council officials have told him he cannot continue to take children to and from schools.

Despite passing strict medical tests and being able to drive on regular bus routes, the driver, from Holt Heath, near Worcester, has been told he can no longer do his full-time run to The Chantry High School, Martley.

It means his working week has now been cut from five days to two, leaving him struggling on his state pension.

"My council coach contract says drivers need to be under 70, but I've been driving children to and from schools for years without a single complaint," he said.

"Every year I must undergo a very strict medical examination to prove to the Government that I'm fit to drive a coach anywhere in the world."

Having just passed the stringent test, the fighting-fit septuagenarian says he feels discriminated against, claiming he has never heard of this restriction anywhere else.

"I find it odd I can drive anyone, be it children, families or pensioners to the shops on normal buses, but I can't work as a coach driver on the school route," he said.

Peter Roberts, network co-ordinator for Worcestershire County Council, said the age limit was in force for dedicated school contracts.

"The restriction was put in place several years ago over genuine concerns from children's parents about the age of drivers. I think the fear was over the increased possibility of heart attacks," he said.

Mr Roberts, who meets regularly with operations managers around the county, confirmed he would be happy to discuss this current situation.

Mr Fidoe, who works for Whittle's, said he felt it was a matter of discrimination which should be looked into.

Whittle's owner, Ron Whittle, said the 70-year-old ruling was "very arbitrary".

"I've employed people before who were well into their 70s," he said.

n Opinion: P6