David George Stack, 50, of Suttor Street in Canowindra was charged last November with driving a school bus whilst under the influence of alcohol.

In court on Wednesday Mr Stack's legal representative, Michael Allen, said his client had sought help after his well publicised arrest, and was looking to enter a treatment facility in Wagga Wagga.

Magistrate Phil Moon said Mr Stack should be given the chance to show he had taken steps to fix his alcohol problem.

Mr Stack was on his regular school run last November when passengers became concerned at the way he was handling the bus.

According to the police statement of facts for the case, the bus was veering onto the wrong side of the road, at times crossing onto dirt on the far side of the road and taking out lane markers.

When he was stopped by highway patrol at Canowindra and had a blood alcohol level of 0.26, Mr Stack asked to continue driving the children home.

Mr Stack left Orange at 3pm on November 7, bound for Canowindra with seven school children and two female passengers on board.

A female passenger was alarmed both by the speed Mr Stack was driving at and the manner of his driving.

When she went to the front of the bus, the woman noticed Mr Stack was 'more jovial' than he had been on previous bus runs.

The woman got off the bus at Cargo to raise the alarm and police were waiting on the road between Cargo and Canowindra.

Mr Stack was stopped with children still aboard on the Lockwood Road.

When Mr Stack was stopped he "freely admitted having consumed an amount of alcohol over a period of time," police said.

A pre sentence report has been prepared for Mr Stack.

His sentencing hearing will continue on April 18, but the state government has already announced that he will never be allowed to drive a bus again in New South Wales.