THIS is the moment a bus driver settled down for a quick nap - with his engine still running.

Environmental health campaigner Maria Sheppard spotted the W12 driver snoozing in Woodbine Place, Wanstead.

The lecturer says she often sees drivers dozing off with their engines on, but has had enough.

She says it poses a "horrifying" health risk to chidlren playing in nearby Christchurch Green and at Treehouse Nursery.

Now, she has started a petition calling on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to fit the capital’s buses with anti-idling devices last month.

But despite gathering over 800 signatures, the Queen Mary University lecturer feels “messed around” by the lack of action from Transport for London (TfL) and Redbridge Council.

She said: “Last weekend (November 26) I was out by the bus stop just before 6am and I saw a W12 bus empty, but with its lights on.

“When I looked closer the door was locked and the driver was asleep inside with his engine still on.

“It’s outrageous, I’m fed up of people not taking this problem seriously when it’s putting people’s health at risk.”

Redbridge Council has agreed to let Ms Sheppard speak at its external scrutiny committee meeting with TfL in January, as well as its full council meeting.

But after a “constructive” meeting with TfL representatives and her councillors on November 23, she is calling on both authorities to “start taking their public health responsibilities seriously”.

She said: “I hope Redbridge will work with bus companies to reduce congestion at the Woodbine Place terminus and consider a 20mph speed limit as well.

“Someone at the Cherry Tree Café in Woodbine Place saw someone in a wheelchair nearly get run over there recently.

“Buses are driving too fast and keeping their engines on when they shouldn’t be.

“I need people to support my petition, because without help, people’s health will remain at risk.”

A Redbridge Council spokesman said: "While lowering air pollution is everyone’s responsibility Redbridge is certainly doing its part to improve air quality. 

"As we have stated before bus idling can be punished by a small fine and plans to adopt these powers will be included in our revised air quality action plan which will go out to consultation early next year.

"In the meantime we are also working with TfL to ensure that any feedback or complaints we receive on bus idling are passed to them so they are able to remind their bus drivers. "

TfL's Tom Cunnington added: "We take the issue of engine idling seriously, and bus operating companies and their drivers are instructed to minimise the amount of time that engines are running at bus stands.

"We will be making regular inspections of this specific location following the concerns that have been raised.

"We recognise that we need to reduce emissions when engines are running, and are testing retrofit technology that should enable our entire fleet to achieve a Euro VI standard by 2020, reducing emission by up to 95 per cent."