A BUS driver who was part of a dramatic rescue says he was surprised when he heard he had been chosen for an award.

Ian Lloyd, 33, from Cwmtillery has been chosen as the Pride of Gwent Local Hero Award winner by a panel of judges.

The father-of-two received national press coverage when he parked the bus he was driving under a bridge in Cwmbran to stop a woman jumping.

The Argus reported at the time of the incident that Mr Lloyd was driving his bus towards Cwmbran town centre on Friday, January 26 at around 10.30am when he noticed the woman on a bridge in Ty Gwyn Road.

He said: “It was a normal working day.

“I saw that the traffic had stopped and saw a commotion then I saw a girl on the bridge.

“She jolted forward and I put the bus underneath her, and she got down.

“It’s all a bit of a blur.”

Mr Lloyd was driving the number six route around Ty Canol for Phil Anslow & Sons Coaches at the time.

He helped talk the woman down, along with other passers-by who had stopped to help her.

He added: “It was instinct more than anything, I don’t feel like a hero. “

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police confirmed that they received a call at about 10.30am that day reporting concerns for the safety of a female on a bridge near Ty Gwyn Road.

She said: “The woman came away from the bridge safely and officers spoke with her and liaised with family members to ensure she was safe and well.”

Mr Lloyd worked as a bus driver for 11 years, and says his job was always interesting. He has since moved on to another career so he can spend more time with his family.

He said: “I will miss the job but the not the hours. You can make more money but you can’t make more memories.”

Even on his last day he was helping people. Mr Lloyd was driving the bus when he was able to help a man with Alzheimer’s disease who got on.

He rang police because the man seemed confused and it turned out he was missing.

When he was told that he had won an award he said: “It’s nice, but it was a bit unexpected.

“It is a bit overwhelming. I am happy for my family because they are buzzing about the award.”

Mr Lloyd is one of the winners who will be celebrated at an awards ceremony which will be held on the afternoon on May 25 in the Coldra Court Hotel where the overall Pride of Gwent winner for 2018 will be announced.

To find out more about the awards visit southwalesargus.co.uk/prideofgwent.