Passengers on a bus in Abingdon had an unusual excuse when they arrived late for work - the driver was stopped for speeding.

An Oxford Bus Company No 4 service from Oxford to Abingdon was speed-checked doing 37mph in a 30mph area by police today.

It was travelling over the A34 bridge into Faringdon Road, Abingdon, and was one of 40 vehicles caught for speeding in two hours at the start of a campaign by Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council's road safety unit.

The drivers stopped by police were travelling at speeds between 35mph and 48mph.

Bus driver Laura Smith, from Abingdon, was questioned by police and road safety officers. Her offence would normally have meant a £60 fine and three penalty points on her driving licence - but both were suspended, because she agreed to an educational and advice talk.

She may, however, face disciplinary action from the bus company.

Ms Smith said: "I've been driving for only nine months and this was the first time I've been stopped. I have a clean licence and have never been involved in an accident.

"I wasn't driving recklessly. I didn't realise I had gone above 30mph. I was in the wrong and will be careful from now on."

There were six passengers on the bus and none realised anything was wrong until the bus made an unscheduled stop in the car park of Larkmead School.

One passenger, Dutchman Martijn Groote, who is living in Wootton, said: "I feel a bit sorry for the driver really. The bus was not travelling that fast and I felt safe. I think the bus picked up a bit of speed as it came down the hill from the bridge."

Among other drivers caught was a fire officer doing 35mph and a mother with a child in her car going 40mph and a van driver clocked at 35mph.

Drivers caught at speeds of between 35 and 39mph were let off with a caution if they agreed to talk to road safety officers. Eleven declined and were issued with a £60 fine.

All drivers doing more than 39mph were fined and will get three penalty points.

Road safety officer Julie Jones said: "If a child is hit at 40mph there's an eight out of 10 chance they will die. But at 30mph, there's an 8 out of 10 chance that they will live."

Faringdon Road is home to Larkmead School and the School of St Helen and St Katharine and both have complained to the police about speeding traffic.

Pc Mark Pilling said: "We've received lots of complaints from the two schools and local residents about speeding vehicles and so we decided to put a marker down on the day the GCSE exam results were released and before the start of the new school term.

"Today's initiative was more of a stop and educate process, rather than punishment, and we hope it got the message through about the damage to life from speeding."

The campaign will continue once the school term starts next month.