A BOUNCER drove a double- decker bus for a prank when he was more than three times over the drink limit, a court was told.

Gordon Robb, 32, a nightclub doorman, decided to move the service bus because he thought it was blocking a parking bay used by the club's courtesy coach, Teesside magistrates heard.

He tried to do a three-point turn near the bus station in Redcar High Street, but was spotted by police half way through the manoeuvre and jumped out, said prosecutor Derek Walton.

Robb, of Alfred Street, Redcar, yesterday pleaded guilty to taking the empty Arriva double-decker without consent, at 10pm on June 17.

He also admitted being three times over the alcohol limit and having no insurance to drive a public service vehicle.

Alex Bousfield, defending, said Robb found it fairly easy to open the pressure-operated door and start the engine by pressing a red button. He only planned to move the empty bus a short distance and now realised it was a foolish thing to do.

The court beard that Robb had been suspended from his job as a bouncer at Club Kudos, next to the bus station, over the incident.

The magistrates, in Middlesbrough, said that they were considering sending Robb to prison and they adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports