Disabled children were driven to school by a convicted sex offender who has admitted he changed his name after being jailed.

Matthew Wilde drove the youngsters after a taxi company was sub-contracted to help take the disabled children to school.

Mr Wilde, who changed his name from Leslie Howard by deed poll in 1994, admitted he had a conviction for a sex offence but denied the children had been in any danger. An escort was with them at all times.

Bradford Council and Metro, which runs public transport, ordered Bronte Taxis not to use the 63-year-old as a driver.

The Council has also asked the Traffic Commissioner to remove Mr Wilde's passenger carrying vehicle licence.

Mr Wilde said he had driven "a couple of times" with the welfare transport service but said no-one would have been at risk.

He said he had been taken to court in 1991 for a sex offence alleged to have taken place in 1978, and spent 18 months in prison.

He said he changed his name on the advice of a solicitor because of problems. Mr Wilde said he had never been asked if he had a criminal record.

Mohammed Rashid, owner of Bronte Taxis of Keighley, said Mr Wilde was not employed by them, but had offered to help out and had not been paid.

Mr Rashid said: "I am shocked to hear about this. I knew he had changed his name but did not know he had a conviction for a sex offence.

"He was already employed as a taxi driver when we took over the company, was licensed and left about a couple of years later. He disappeared for a couple of years and then started coming back to the office helping with cleaning and things.

"He volunteered to help. I think it was a goodwill gesture and I knew he had previously been a taxi driver."

The traffic commissioners can authorise a hearing and ask a driver to attend if information is given to them about the holder of a licence. They could caution the driver but have the power to revoke licences.

Drivers are required to declare convictions when they apply but do not need to regularly seek renewal of licences except for changes in circumstances, like reaching the age of 45 when the licence must be renewed.

A Council spokesman said: "This driver was accompanied on all journeys by an escort who had Criminal Records Bureau clearance.

"When it was learned he (the driver) was a sex offender, an internal inquiry was launched and Metro instructed the contracted company to cease using this driver."

Information about Mr Wilde and his work with welfare transport was passed on to a member of the education scrutiny committee by a GMB shop steward who has worked in the service for 17 years.

Councillor John Briggs (Lib-Dem) told the committee he was acting for other drivers who were horrified about what happened. He demanded to know what safeguards existed to help vulnerable children.

Education Bradford boss Mark Pattison said: "Health and safety are absolutely top priority for us in terms of recruitment checks, and the system is significantly more robust than it was previously under the Council."

Bart Booth passed on to Coun Briggs the signed statements from three people alleging Mr Wilde had driven children to and from school between January 7 and 29.

Mr Booth, the driver who is now leaving WYTS, said: "This is very, very serious and I am really concerned about it."

Councillor Dave Green, Labour spokesman for social services, said: "I have been concerned about the welfare transport services and the use of contractors and police checks since before Christmas."