FIRST York employee Alison Owbridge has been hailed as the country’s top female bus driver.

Alison, 48, from Wigginton, finished tenth in the UK’s Bus Driver of the Year competition, held at the weekend in Blackpool - making her the highest placed woman.

The contest involved about 120 drivers from across the UK, who had each been successful in local competitions to claim their place at the finals.

Alison, who is married with two children, started her career with First York’s predecessor, York City & District buses, 26 years ago.

After a number of various roles in the bus industry and taking time away to raise her children, she rejoined First last year.

She said of her success: “I’ve never been as nervous as I wanted to do so well. I really enjoy the job and I’m delighted to have done so well and be the top placed female driver.”

Competitors were tested on all aspects of the profession, from practical driving skills to customer care and a 30 question theory test and, after the first round, Alison held joint first position.

Will Pearson, business manager for First in York, congratulated her for a ‘superb performance and a fantastic achievement,’ and also praised two other York drivers, Terence Seed and Luke Towey, who got to the finals as well.

A First Bus spokesman said drivers from the firm had finished in first, second and third places at the event, which was considered the ‘Top Gun’ of the bus world, and said First in York this month had also been short-listed for the prestigious title of Bus Operator of the Year at the National Transport Awards, to be held in London next month.