A BUS driver's suggestion considered by management as 'practical' has been rewarded.

Eastleigh bus driver Dave Yeates has been given a £10 store voucher by Solent Blue Line for his suggestion to issue a card that deaf and dumb people can complete when buying a ticket on the bus.

Dave, local trade union chairman, has first-hand experience of the problems some deaf and dumb people experience and said he felt Solent Blue Line could do more to help. The bus company agreed.

Managing director Malcolm Venn said: "We felt it was a practical and thoughtful suggestion to make life easier for an important section of our passengers.

"Dave told us passengers with speech and hearing difficulties in general are users of our buses and a card would be very helpful to them. It can also be used by foreign exchange students as well. An example has been sent to our printers.

"We had a number of particularly useful suggestions from staff and as a result we will be running the prize-winning scheme again in the lead-up to Christmas."

Dave said he was delighted with his voucher. He added: "It will come in very handy.

"I was conscious that the company could do more to assist the deaf and dumb and I am pleased they have responded in this way to my suggestion, which I felt was a good idea.''