A BUS driver celebrated his first wedding anniversary by driving off with a national award.
Jason Dalladas, 33, who works for Yellow Buses, received the Passenger Focus trophy and £500 at the prestigious UK Bus Driver of the Year final in Blackpool.
He was the highest placed competitor from an independent company and was placed 17th overall in a field of more than 90 entrants.
Fellow Yellows driver Dennis Maheve was 68th.
Jason said: “The final took place on the same weekend that I celebrated my first wedding anniversary.
“My wife, Suzy, was with me in Blackpool so it turned into quite a celebration.”
The gruelling testing for the awards included a three-mile driving test with manoeuvring exercises and a circuit along Blackpool prom.
Drivers were required to stop at a number of bus stops while observers judged their signalling, positioning and bus handling.
Yellow Buses managing director Derek Lott said: “We're very proud of Jason and Dennis for representing us so well in Blackpool. To win an award against such stiff competition was a tremendous achievement.”
