Sandra Avery, 48, of Darvel Down, Netherfield, was travelling on the A259 towards Rye after leaving Icklesham when the accident happened.

Prosecutor Alison May said: "The bus driver was going towards Rye at around 6.30am when he saw the vehicle being driven by the defendant come up behind him.

"It shot out all of a sudden and tried to overtake him."

Miss May said several witnesses saw the accident, which happened on December 4 last year.

Avery's car went off the road and into a hedge. Both her and her work colleague, who was the passenger at the time, managed to get out.

Miss May said: "One witness said the defendant's car was being driven dangerously and trying to overtake on a blind bend.

"The defendant's passenger said there was a conversation about when it would be safe to overtake the bus. She said the defendant approached the outskirts of Icklesham and moved out to see of she could overtake.

"Her colleague sustained a bruised left thumb, a swollen wrist, cuts and a fractured sternum.

"During police interview the defendant described her actions as a 'moment of madness'".

Avery appeared before Hastings magistrates in court on Monday and pleaded guilty to careless driving.

Ronan Crummy, defending, said: "The defendant and her colleague had received a call from the hospice just before the end of their shift.

"It was an urgent call to deliver medication for one of their patients.

"On the way there they they received another phone call saying ambulance paramedics were trying to see another patient at an address but could not get in.

"It was dark and the defendant did not see the double white lines meaning she could not overtake but she did what she could to avoid a head-on collision.

"She has had 29 years of unblemished driving so this was a one-off incident, one of which she is extremely remorseful and embarrassed about."

Magistrates endorsed Avery's licence with seven penalty points, fined her £200 and ordered £35 costs.