A BUS passenger collapsed in a drunken stupor on top of a little boy he had taken on an outing to McDonald's, a court heard yesterday.

Mark Townley tippled over in his seat, trapping the three-year-old child against him, after including a visit to a pub in Bradford city centre in the day trip.

The bus was halted at the junction of Princes Way and Little Horton Lane after passengers raised the alarm, and the police and paramedics were summoned, prosecutor Charles MacRae told Bradford and Keighley magistrates.

Townley, 31, of Clover Street, Little Horton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a child under the age of seven years on December 5.

The court heard he collected the little boy at lunchtime from a friend's house to take him on one of their regular outings together.

At around 4.30pm, Townley phoned the child's mother saying they were setting off home.

Mr MacRae said his voice was slurred and she was worried because he sounded drunk, although he denied it.

At 6pm, Townley and the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were on a bus from the city centre to Buttershaw when passengers became concerned about them.

Townley then collapsed over in his seat, trapping the child against the window.

He was slipping in and out of consciousness and an ambulance and the police were called because it was feared he had been taken ill.

Mr MacRae said Townley stood up and became argumentative, saying he was not drunk.

He was arrested for being drunk in charge of a child in a public place, contrary to the 1902 Licensing Act.

Townley told the police he took the boy to McDonald's and then went into a pub for a quick drink.

He intended to have just one pint but he was upset because his mother had passed away recently.

He got talking to people and began drinking whisky.

The court heard he had no previous convictions.

Representing himself in court, Townley told magistrates: "I am sorry. It was stupid."

He said he knew he was drunk and so got on the bus and could not remember much after that.

Magistrates told Townley: "This is quite a serious matter involving a very young child."

They fined him £110 and ordered him to pay £105 costs.