A coach driver has appeared in court after a passenger reported him for allegedly smoking cannabis.

Azad Ali Malik, 42, was arrested at Hall Place after driving a tour coach with 79 passengers from Skegness to Bexley - a three-hour drive and 150-mile journey.

Mr Malik stopped off at the Tudor Mansion at 6.34pm on November 10 and was due to drive onto Victoria to finish the journey but police were called to the scene after a passenger accused Mr Malik of not being in a fit state to take the wheel.

The defendant appeared unrepresented at Bexley Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, charged with possessing cannabis and driving while unfit through drugs.

The matter was deemed too serious to be dealt with by the magistrates.

Mr Malik, of Ferrers Avenue, West Drayton in Middlesex, was given unconditional bail and will next appear at the Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday, March 26 for a preliminary hearing.