BUS drivers in Darlington claim they are being forced to put lives at risk every day because of the hours they are being made to work.

The Stagecoach drivers say they are being left "absolutely shattered" after sometimes working for ten hours a day with only a minimal break.

But bus managers say safety is their priority and that they will take action to remedy any legitimate concerns.

One driver said in a three day period he started work at 11.55am and finished at 12.05am.

The following day he worked from 9.20am to 7.40pm before being back at work the day after at 5am.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said: "This might be legal but it's barely moral.

"I'm absolutely shattered. There are limits to what people can take, how there hasn't been a crash is beyond me."

Other problems include as many as four shift patterns in one week and 10 hours driving with only the minimum break of 36 minutes.

He said morale at the Darlington depot, which has about 50 drivers, was at an all-time low with talk of staging a work-to-rule or a mass walk out.

The driver added: "As long as the company's making money they're not bothered.

Nigel Winter, operations director for Stagecoach North-East, said safety was the company's number one priority and it complied with all legal requirements.

He added: "There is a fully inclusive consultation with the drivers through the union and if there are concerns then drivers should raise it through them."