A Cumbrian coach driver who performed a three-point turn on a motorway has been given a nine-month professional driving ban.

Mark Ingleton, of Westhaven, Thursby, drove the wrong way down a motorway slip road into oncoming traffic.

Deputy Traffic Commissioner Simon Evans has now revoked the 35-year-old's professional driving licence.

The industry regulator concluded that Mr Ingleton, a driver for Reays Coaches, had let himself, his passengers and his employer down and that his conduct was unbecoming of a professional.

Mr Evans written decision concluded: “Mark Ingleton’s actions were not what the travelling public would expect from a professional driver in whom they place their trust on journeys.

“Safety of passengers is absolutely paramount and this conduct prejudiced it when the situation was a wholly avoidable one.

“One of the expectations of professional drivers that mark them out from others can be judged in circumstances of their handling of unexpected difficulty, pressure, stress or crisis.”

On July 5 last year, the coach driver had been carrying members of Whitehaven Rugby League team back to Whitehaven on the M1, when an accident led to long delays.

After being stationary for 40 minutes, Mr Ingleton carried out a three point turn, then drove the wrong way down a slip road and into traffic.

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In his evidence, Mr Ingleton said he had been pressured by passengers to carry out the manoeuvre - which a number of other motorists had already performed.

The Deputy Traffic Commissioner acknowledged the agitated state of some of the passengers, who had been drinking, but described it as a “spectacular failure” by Mr Ingleton.

The commissioner noted the incident was an isolated one in an otherwise positive driving career. Mr Ingleton has since undertaken retraining.