A former soldier's combat training came in handy during his latest battle against an Oxford bus driver he spotted using his mobile phone at the wheel.

Hugh McManners, 53, was stunned to see a Stagecoach driver texting as he drove through the junction of Banbury Road and Marston Ferry Road towards Summertown, and launched his latest mission.

Mr McManners, of North Oxford, said: "The driver at the Marston Ferry Road lights was heading north towards Summertown, entering data on his mobile phone, and missed the change of the lights.

"As he drove off across the junction, he continued to enter data either a phone number or a text message.

"I looked up as I walked across, and noticed that the driver was not watching where he was going. He must have been texting or entering data in his mobile phone."

Mr McManners, a former commando who has worked as a defence correspondent for national newspapers, took down the bus' registration number on March 22 and then tried to track down the company which owned it.

When he first approached Stagecoach, it told him it probably belonged to another local company. But with the help of the county council he was able to establish that the bus registration number P353 JND was Stagecoach's number 59 working out of Banbury.

Following Mr McManners' complaint, the company arranged a disciplinary hearing.

Before the hearing on Friday, Chris Child, a spokesman for Stagecoach in Oxford, told the Oxford Mail: "We have a strict policy where the use of a mobile phone while driving is forbidden. We're carrying out a full investigation, in accordance with our disciplinary procedure.

"Any proven breach of the rules will result in serious disciplinary action, including dismissal for gross misconduct."

Following the hearing, Mr Child refused to disclose whether any disciplinary action had taken place, or whether the driver had been dismissed.

"There was a disciplinary hearing but the outcome can not be disclosed for confidentiality reasons," added Mr Child. "This is a matter we have taken very seriously and we have dealt with the driver but it is a confidential matter that has been dealt with internally."

Mr McManners, who has worked on TV shows including BBC2's Battlecries and ITV's Commando series, said afterwards that Stagecoach had promised to let him know the outcome of the hearing but was now refusing to do so.

He added: "I'll be honest I have used a hands-free phone in the car, but I think bus drivers have a huge responsibility regarding the safety of their passengers and pedestrians.

"As a customer who has used Stagecoach buses, I am not satisfied with the response."