Road safety groups have come together to call for an immediate change in the law after a novice driver in charge of a First Bus killed a passenger when he fell asleep at the wheel.

Saeed Abbas, 26, of Marsh Street, Bradford, who had only passed his car driving test two years before the fatal crash, had been granted a Public Service Vehicle licence and was working as a full-time driver for First.

On Thursday Abbas was sentenced to seven years in jail for causing death by dangerous driving at Bradford Crown Court.

He had admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Albert Rowley, 82, of Brighouse, in September 2006.

Abbas, who had been working for First Bus for around a year, fell asleep at the wheel of the bus which left the road and crashed through a stone wall in Huddersfield.

The bus was carrying 44 passengers at the time, one of whom, Mr Rowley, later died in hospital.

During the course of the trial it emerged that in the space of a year Abbas had had four previous collisions, the fourth of which occurred just 19 days prior to the fatal crash.

The court also heard that he had been given a verbal warning and was facing disciplinary proceedings at the time of the accident.

Carole Whittingham, founder of the group SCARD (Support and Care After Road Death and Injury) based in Brighouse, said: "I am absolutely horrified to hear that such an inexperienced driver was allowed to be in charge of a bus.

"You are not even allowed to teach someone else to drive a car until you have been driving for over two years. A newly qualified driver does not have the experience or the maturity to make the necessary decisions.

"My son, Steven, was killed by a negligent driver so I know how the family of Mr Rowley must be feeling.

"That they should lose a loved one because of someone doing something as stupid as driving while overly tired is absolutely appalling. I think there needs to be an urgent change to the law before something like this happens again."

Lorna Jackson, of road safety charity Brake, said: "As a professional driver you are responsible for ensuring you are fit to drive. Having already fallen asleep Abbas should have gone to a manager and reported himself unfit. If you are falling asleep at the wheel you are obviously far too tired to drive anybody."

Brighouse Conservative councillor, Joyce Cawthra, said: "I am concerned about the level of training given to drivers, especially in a case where a driver has had four accidents. I would have thought re-training should be standard."

Khadim Hussain, First's operations director in Bradford, said the company had nothing to add to the statement it made in the aftermath of the court case, when he said: "We review and audit our driver training on a regular basis and are continually carrying out improvements to our processes to ensure drivers are trained to the highest standards."