Sacked for eating a grape, driver claims

A British bus driver claims he has been sacked for eating a grape.

Michael Shephard says he was not driving the vehicle while munching on the fruit, which he consumed to wet his mouth due to a medical condition.

He is quoted by The Daily Telegraph as saying: "I am so angry. I thought I would be given a disciplinary for eating a grape, but not sacked.

"I don't eat or drink while I am driving but I was just sat stationary at the bus terminus in Bedworth for a few minutes and took a grape to wet my mouth a bit."

The 66-year-old man sometimes has a sip of water or a grape to wet his mouth as the medication he has to take following a heart bypass 12 months ago leaves his mouth dry.

He added: "I explained why I needed to have a sip of water or a grape every hour or so but they said it is still against the rules. They are just taking the rules to the next level."