A bus driver who was almost blinded when youths shone a laser pen in his eyes has had a heart attack weeks after returning to work.

Bob Lock, 50, of Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards, believes stress brought on by the assault triggered the coronary, which left him bed-ridden in hospital for nine days.

As a result of the heart attack he has lost his driving job and also thinks the strain following the laser attack contributed to the breakdown of his marriage.

Mr Lock is now barred from driving a bus because under Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency rules he cannot return to work while in poor health or on medication.

He had recently returned to his job after being reinstated by bus operator Stagecoach, which initially sacked him for breaching company rules by talking to the Press about the laser pen attack.

He was almost blinded in one eye in September last year when two youths jumped in front of his double-decker and fired a laser beam in his eyes in Battle Road, St Leonards.

He said: "The doctors said they could not be 100 per cent certain, but they said the attack could have been caused by stress.

"As you can imagine, I'm not feeling brilliant at the moment as I will have to look for another career.

"I don't really know what to do. I'm hoping to get some office work but the future is looking uncertain for me."

The laser attack has also left him needing specially-tinted glasses costing £150, which he paid for himself.

Mike Johnson, the Transport and General Workers' Union regional industrial organiser, said: "I'm very upset for Mr Lock.

"It's quite clear that this has been brought on by the events of the past few months, which have been terrible."

Mr Lock, a bus driver for eight years, moved to Sussex last April after being mugged in a lift at the block of flats where he lived in London.

He was forced to move to the coast after his attackers found out where he lived.

Since then the strain of the laser pen attack has contributed to the break-up of his marriage.

Mr Lock, who is now living with friends, added: "It may sound funny but I like it down here. The people generally are friendly.

"But those who shone that pen in my eyes have ruined my life.

"I'm having to take four tablets a day, two of which I will have to take for the rest of my life. I just hope 2002 is a better year for me."

His attackers have not been caught.