A Basildon bus driver has been sacked for sending 38,000 text messages on his company mobile phone in a losing effort to win contest jackpot, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Lesley Verney, a bus driver on the Wickford route, ran up a bill of £20,000 with his text messages while trying to win a £100,000 SMS contest that ended June 30, transport spokesman Herbert Butler told Basildoneye.

"A bus drivers' monthly company phone bill is supposed to be limited to £5.

"Varney sent an average of 1,200 SMS text messages a day, each costing 25p, on his work mobile phone."

Varney told Basildoneye he wanted to buy a second car with his possible winnings.

"Now I'm without work," he said, leaning on the bar in the Towngate. When told his story will be written in text, he flew into a fit.