A BUS driver from Newcastle who was medically retired following a car accident has secured significant damages with the support of the GMB union's Friends and Family scheme.

At the time of the accident, Kenneth Lansley was employed as a bus driver for Arriva.

He was driving his car along the Central Motorway through Newcastle during the rush hour.

He had joined the motorway from Jesmond and was in the outside lane as he approached the Claremont Road turn-off, when a BMW drove into the side of his vehicle and pushed his car into the concrete edge and barrier of the central reservation, demolishing three barrier posts.

Mr Lansley, who is now 62 years old and retired, said: "It was a horrifying experience. I was forced into the central reservation with hundreds of cars flying past me. The police were called. I suffered whiplash and since then a great deal of stress."

A settlement of £30,000 was reached with the insurers of the other driver.

Julie Elliott, Regional Organiser at GMB, said: "Road traffic accidents are an increasingly common occurrence and often result in fairly insignificant claims of compensation. We're delighted that our Friends and Family scheme has provided the support which Mr Lansley so badly needed, and we hope it will help to ease his retirement."

Representing Mr Lansley, Andrew Venn from Thompsons Solicitors in Newcastle added: "Thirty thousand pounds is a significant settlement for a road traffic accident, and in this case, it reflects the impact that the accident has had on Mr Lansley's life, forcing him to retire earlier than he had planned."