TWO quick-thinking teen-agers have been hailed as heroes after they saved their class from certain disaster on a runaway coach.

Eighteen sixth-formers were on board the driverless vehicle as it rolled towards a seaside cliff, picking up speed as it went.

But as the youngsters made frantic efforts to escape, 17-year-old Jonathan Goddard leapt into the driver's seat to try to bring the coach to a halt.

And as schoolmate Pete Barnsley shouted out: "Jonny, Jonny, the middle pedal!" he slammed his foot on the brake, bringing the vehicle to halt just feet from the 30ft cliff and saving the lives of those on board.

The drama happened at Sandsend, near Whitby, after the coach carrying the youngsters, from Fulford School, York, had pulled on to a sloping car-park overlooking the sea.

It had developed a brake problem and driver Richard Baker, from Skipwith, got out to investigate.

He put chocks on the wheels and then got underneath to try to free the brakes but allowed the young passengers to stay on board.

But the vehicle started to roll towards the cliff, dragging the driver underneath and leading to panic on board as it picked up momentum.

Teachers yelled for those who could to fling themselves clear. One girl managed to leap on to a grass verge but injured herself as she landed.

A 17-year-old boy tried to grab an emergency hammer to break a window to escape - but it was tied up with heavy gauge wire, and he could not free it, despite pulling so hard that the hammer bent.

Jonathan and Pete have now been presented with inscribed tankards by the school in recognition of their actions in preventing a catastrophe and both are to receive commendations from City of York Council.

Jonathan said there had initially been amusement when the bus began moving, then panic as they realised it was not going to stop.

"I didn't want to die. I ran up to the front to put the brake on, but I couldn't drive at the time," he said.

"Pete shouted that it was the middle pedal and I just pushed it."

A Traffic Commissioner's inquiry in Leeds heard that a subsequent examination of the rear offside brakes revealed that the lining was worn down to the rivets.

Traffic commissioner Tom Macartney suspended Mr Baker's vocational driving licence for 28 days and reduced the number of vehicles operator Hopwood Coaches, of Askham Bryan, can run from four to three