SAFETY checks on school buses led to the discovery of a Chester-le-Street taxi driver from who had just delivered two children to school while over the drink-drive limit.

He was caught during Operation Coachman, in which police officers carried out spot checks on buses and taxis leaving County Durham schools after dropping children off.

Taxi driver Derek Orchin, 49, of Seven Acres, Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, had had six cans of beer the night before he took the two children from Durham to Whitworth School in Spennymoor on the morning of April 24.

An initial roadside breath test proved negative, but a second test showed a reading of 45 microgrammes of alcohol. The legal limit is 35. Last week he lost his licence and his job after he admitted to being over the limit.

Orchin, who appeared before Sedgefield magistrates in Newton Aycliffe last Friday, was disqualified from driving for a year, which will be reduced to nine months if he completes a rehabilitation course. He was also fined £200, plus £55 costs.

His solicitor, Gwen Burnett, said: "He thought he was perfectly capable of driving at 9.30 in the morning. He felt no ill-effects of alcohol and was absolutely shocked when he was asked to take a breath test."

Orchin, who was caught while working for Chester-le-Street firm Lumley Taxis, added: "I feel hard done by. It was instant dismissal, my car was taken off me immediately. I feel quite bitter about the whole thing. I regret what's happened because basically it's my fault, but I wouldn't have driven the kids if I felt that I was over the limit."

A police spokeswoman said: "The education authority immediately terminated the firm's contract."

Of the 200 vehicles inspected during Operation Coachman, 13 were served with immediate prohibition notices - at a rate of one in 15 being condemned as unsafe. Six had worn tyres and others had defective lights, insecure seats and a jammed passenger door. A further 11 were issued with delayed prohibition notices, giving the bus operators time to correct minor faults.

The checks were carried by Durham police in conjunction with Durham County Council and the Vehicle Inspectorate.

Police officers stopped vehicles at 11 schools in Wingate, Easington Colliery, Durham, Barnard Castle, Darlington, Sedgefield and Spennymoor after dropping children off.

Supt Barry Peart, Durham Constabulary 's head of traffic, said: "These checks demonstrate our commitment to minimise the risk of youngsters becoming casualties. Despite our efforts and publicity, some drivers continue to use vehicles which are unsafe."