A COURAGEOUS bus driver is up for a top policing award after protecting her passengers from men who assaulted and robbed a customer on a busy bus route.

Tracey Evans was driving the 126 service to Dudley from Birmingham, when she noticed an attack was taking place on the top deck of her bus.

Tracey spotted a passenger was being robbed and assaulted by three men so immediately contacted her colleagues at National Express West Midlands' Central Control.

The police were then able to track the exact location of the bus thanks to Tracey's calm and quick thinking.

Tracey then continued the journey so as not to alert the attackers, while keeping an eye on their behaviour on the on-board cameras.

Police then boarded the bus in Oldbury and Tracey bravely identified one of the offenders who tried to hide his identity.

The attackers were arrested and were discovered to be carrying a hammer and knife.

In recognition of her bravery, Tracey is now in the running for a Police and Crime Commissioner's Award.

David Jamieson, PCC for the West Midlands, said: "Tracey's extraordinary act of bravery helped prevent serious harm a member of the public.

"Her courage went above and beyond her duty as a bus driver. She put the safety of others before herself, to ensure the offenders were apprehended.

"Tracey is a credit to National Express West Midlands and this is our chance to say thank you."

Tracey said: "When I noticed what was happening, I knew I had to alert Control and made sure we got the police involved.

"I was just doing my job so I tried to keep everything as normal and calm as possible and I continued driving as normal while making sure my customers were safe.

"I feel so privileged to be invited to the awards ceremony. It's really lovely to be recognised."

Tracey will find out of if she won at the ceremony on July 11.