A bus driver has lost his licence for a month and been condemned to a suspended jail term after his private car mounted a pavement and hit two teenagers leaving one of them seriously injured.

David Attard, 21, from Qormi admitted to involuntarily causing serious injuries to Reece Debono, 13 and slightly injuring  Kurt Scicluna, 16, while driving at excessive speed.

David Attard was in his Volkswagen in St Sebastian Street, Qormi, on Saturday afternoon when he lost control and veered off the road a few metres away from a zebra crossing.

One of the victims was slammed against a metal door during the incident.

In pleas on punishment, defence lawyer Edward Gatt argued that his client was a first time offender and asked for the minimum punishment to be meted out.

Police Inspector Joseph Agius told Magistrate Giovanni Grixti that the vehicle's brake marks measured 43.8 metres and the crash took place five metres away from a zebra crossing.

The youngest of the victims ended up with three broken toes and may have to have one of them amputated.

Magistrate Grixti handed down a six month jail term suspended for one year and also suspended his licence for one month.