THE BUS driver involved in the accident which claimed the life of biker Andrew Leese, from Cleeve Prior, has been found not guilty of careless driving.

Carlton Thompson, of Kings Norton, Birmingham, was overtaking horses on the B4085 Cleeve Prior to Bidford Road last May when Mr Leese on his Honda CBR 900 Fireblade came around the corner and collided with the front of the single-decker Midland Red bus.

The 61-year-old bus driver pleaded not guilty to careless driving at a two-day trial at Evesham Magistrates Court which started last Friday.

Magistrates took the unusual step of boarding a bus to take part in a reconstruction of the accident near Cleeve Manor, and later took nearly four hours to decide the verdict.

Prosecutor, Mark Soper told the court that Thompson overtook horses near a bend over hazard warning lines.

He said: "It was an ill-judged attempt to overtake these horses in a position where he should not have done so because of the restricted vision and the bends in the road."

Police accident investigator Martin Fisher said he could not estimate the motorcycle's speed because of the absence of any skid marks.

He said the bus should have been visible to Mr Leese from a distance of 100 metres as the vehicle was taller than the hedgerows but the 23 year-old motorcyclist was wearing a tinted visor, which did not conform to British safety standards.

PC Fisher said: "The visor, which was down, together with the shadows from the trees, may have impaired Mr Leese's view."

Three witnesses for the defence were called who gave evidence that the bus was being driven slowly and carefully.

Passenger Jennifer Appleton said: "I looked up when the driver was overtaking the horses and the road was clear.

Farmer Ian Paxton who was out riding with his wife Tracey said: "When the bus started to come past we had no fear for our safety - he was driving slowly and gave us plenty of space."

"Seconds later, as the bus was pulling back to the left blocking our view, we heard a terrible bang."

Mrs Paxton said: "I was aware of a motor bike coming into view extremely fast and it didn't look as if it was going to slow down."

Thompson, a bus driver of 27 years, said: "I thought I was driving very carefully giving the horses plenty of room.

"I saw the motorcycle when I was pulling back to my side, he made no attempt to slow down."

Defending, Richard Quinn said the bus driver was entitled to carry out the manoeuvre which was safe according to witnesses at the scene.

He said: "Mr Leese did not see the bus and that is why this accident happened."