An angry motorist who hurled verbal abuse at a bus driver as she tried to safely get children off her vehicle, has admitted threatening behaviour.

Ryan Michael Sutherland, 28, was annoyed with Jodie Wood because she wanted him to wait while she escorted children off her bus after it stopped outside Stanwix School on March 22.

He was clearly annoyed as he sat in his car with his partner.

First, he made an offensive gesture towards the bus driver and then made a number of rude and insulting comments towards her, the court heard.

"It caused her a great deal of upset," prosecutor John Moran told Carlisle's magistrates' court.

Mr Moran said the people who were present - including schoolchildren - witnessed what happened.

In her victim personal statement, Ms Wood told the court: "I was shaken. He made me feel worthless."

She said she could not believe a grown man could behave in such a way, and in such a rude manner.

Mr Moran said that when interviewed by police, the defendant made some admissions, saying he was the driver but he could not remember saying the specific words alleged.

Gail Heard, for Sutherland, of Mossrigg, Carlisle, said her client had spoken of how the bus driver had walked out into the road, leaving him somewhat shocked.

She said Sutherland denied the bus driver's suggestion he had been on his phone at the time he was driving past the school.

The lawyer said: "He accepts it was an inappropriate outburst, but he didn't get out of the car and there is no suggestion of any physical threat."

Miss Heard said the defendant, a factory worker who was also a father-of-three, now felt ashamed.

"It was a spontaneous but inappropriate outburst," added the lawyer.

Deputy District Judge Zoe Passfield told the defendant: "This woman was doing her job and I am concerned there were children present; and even more concerned that you have children of your own.

"So you will aware of what effect behaviour of this sort will have on children on that age."

She imposed a £655 fine of £655, with £85 prosecution costs and £50 compensation to the bus driver.