THE school coach driver who was accused of drink driving by teachers has been released without charge.

An investigation is under way after staff from North Durham Academy, in Stanley, County Durham, confronted the driver shortly after they arrived in France.

Teachers accused him of drinking red wine and called police.

Although the driver passed an on-the-spot breath test he was taken away by police for further questioning.

Last night the transport company which supplied the coach, Northumberland-based Travelsure, said a relief driver had been flown out to Paris and a full investigation was underway.

Staff and parents told The Northern Echo on Friday night that the driver had failed a breath test. Academy principal David Thornton said he failed a breath test carried out by French police officers after refusing to use the onboard breathalyser kit when asked to do so by teachers.

However, a spokeswoman said the driver had passed a test and was later freed without charge.

In a statement released on Saturday night she said: "An incident occurred on Friday afternoon in France in which a coach driver was alleged to have consumed alcohol whilst driving.

"The driver was requested by the teaching staff to take a breathalyser test, which he did and passed, using one of the two breathalysers carried on the coach, as specified by French law. "The police had already been called and when they attended he was taken away for questioning.

"The driver has since been released without charge or fine. "We are unable to comment further on the circumstances until we have carried out a full investigation and been able to speak with all parties involved to establish the true facts."

Defending the driver's record, the spokeswoman continued: "This self-employed casual driver has worked with us over many years and has always been reliable and professional. "He has over 40 years experience in the industry, having operated his own European coach business before going self employed on a casual basis.

"We have flown a driver over to Paris to complete the job.

"We have a strict drink driving policy in place and do not tolerate any breach of regulation.

"This matter will be investigated fully but at present we can confirm that the driver has been released without charge."

Two staff went with French police to give evidence at the police station, while another two waited with children for a relief driver, who was French, to take the pupils to their hotel safely. The children were on a £300 three night trip to the French capital, visiting the sights before singing with a school choir at Disneyland Paris today. (Sunday October 26)