A bus company is calling on community leaders, residents and local councillors to help stop a rise in vandalism to its buses.

In the last fortnight, there have been more than eight incidents of bricks and stones being thrown at First Manchester vehicles as they pass by or waiting at stopovers.

A location of particular concern is the Copley Estate in Stalybridge where recently the 348 service had to be diverted due to four buses being damaged with smashed windows.

Incidents have also occurred on the 409 running between Rochdale and Ashton, the 84 service between Manchester and Huddersfield and the 83 from Oldham via Newton Heath and passing through Failsworth and Hollinwood.

These have led First Manchester to divert and temporarily suspend services on certain days.

Damage to buses in Oldham

Adrian Worsfold, Operations Director of First Manchester, said: “This mindless vandalism is endangering our drivers and customers and we’re sure the communities will want to join together and do what they can to end this reckless behaviour before someone is seriously hurt or worse.

“The safety of our staff and customers is our highest priority and we are working closely with the police to investigate the incidents including the use of on board CCTV footage to help identify the individuals involved. Although isolated, such attacks can have very serious consequences and we would encourage anyone with information to contact the police or get in touch with Crimestoppers.”

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/ 

He added: “Anyone with information about the people involved should come forward with what they know.

“Every time we have to divert buses or shorten a route it is disrupting the lives of local people in the communities we serve.

“Acts of vandalism cause significant interference to timetable arrangements. We aim to source a replacement bus as quickly as possible in order to minimise disruption to our customers, but when vandalism occurs while the bus is in service, then it does inevitably and regrettably result in at least part of that scheduled journey being cancelled. Repairing a bus means it is missing from service the following day too.”