YOBS pelted a bus with stones – cracking its window and leaving passengers shaken. 

Passengers were forced to take shelter as they feared the windows would smash when youths hurled stones at a bus travelling along Link Road, Canvey, on Monday. 

This was the second incident in two weeks, echoing problems in previous years when bus routes were changed to avoid incidents. 

Dan Worley, operations manager at First Hadleigh, has warned that the company “will need to once again consider the sustainability of the service at certain times of the day” to protect the safety of drivers and passengers, should trouble continue.

Thankfully, the window was only cracked in this incident and nobody was hurt. 

John Reed, 33, from Canvey was a passenger at the time on bus 27. 

He said: “There were about three passengers on the bus at the time, including me, and then the driver too.

“It was about 6.45pm when I was on the bus home from work and suddenly heard a loud bang. 

“It only took about 30 seconds and three or four stones to hit the bus for me to realise it was probably kids throwing them, as I’ve heard about the problem before. They must’ve all had a stone or two each.

“We all started to duck and one of the windows ended up being cracked, but thankfully nobody was hurt.

“We were all quite shaken up, it only takes one of the windows to shutter and break for there to be serious injuries. Everyone was shaking their head in disbelief.”

There were more than 12 attacks between Christmas 2018 and the end of February 2019 on buses in the area. 

As a result, First diverted routes to avoid the Manor Trading Estate in Benfleet as well as Somnes Avenue and Link Road on Canvey. 

Mr Reed added: “They are key workers and in no way should be treated in this way, it must be a nightmare for them.

“It’s disgraceful, and I just want residents to be aware that this is still happening.

“We are a one car family and I rely on this bus to get to work where my wife needs the car. If the bus stops I’m knackered and I possibly won’t even be able to get to work.”

Dan Worley, from First, said: “It has been a while since we experienced some ani-social behaviour involving our buses in the Canvey area, but over the last couple of weeks on two occasions, objects have been thrown at the bus which has caused some damage to windows – thankfully no injuries were sustained to our driver or passengers.

“It is very disappointing to see this criminal activity taking place when our drivers, who are key workers, are trying their best to get people to their destinations as safely as possible. 

“I do not want to see the situation escalate as it has done previously in the area, or we will need to once again consider the sustainability of the service at certain times of the day to protect the safety of our drivers and passengers travelling.”