A BUS service was diverted around a housing estate after a series of violent attacks on vehicles.

Buses were stopped from entering the Oldhams Estate after stones and bricks were hurled at the 534 service and shopping trolleys were rammed into vehicles twice in one day.

The service, from Bolton town centre to Astley Bridge, via Oldhams, stopped at the edge of the estate during the evening of Sunday, April 17, after the last attacks.

It then followed the normal route for the night, but did not travel through the estate.

Maytree Travel boss Gary Hawthorne has said services will carry on as normal and he will not let parts of Bolton become no-go areas.

But he said: “Taking off services is a last resort, but first and foremost, drivers and passengers are our concern, safety is paramount.

“These incidents could cause an accident.”

Dave Ashworth, of Hall i’th’ Wood, has been driving for the company for three years.

The 29-year-old said: “You get youths, especially at night and in the holidays, throwing stones, bottles and cans.

“You also get adults, who have usually been drinking, who get verbal or assault you. I have been spat at a couple of times.

“It is part of life as a bus driver, but it is sad that’s the case.

“The driver and company suffer but, ultimately, it’s the ordinary passengers who are affected.”

Maytree says it has regular problems with youths, particularly in school holidays, in all areas of Bolton, with the Oldhams Estate the current hotspot.

The company says groups of half-a-dozen to a dozen youths are usually involved, ranging in age from seven to 15.

This year, the company has had eight side windows smashed, paying £250 for each one to be replaced. Front windscreens cost £600.

Mr Hawthorne said: “I am concerned about my drivers and passengers, it is unnerving and intimidating for them.”

Maytree has a process to deal with incidents, and details are also passed on to the police.

Ward councillors and Bolton at Home staff who cover the Oldhams Estate have stressed it is a minority of people causing trouble.

Cllr John Walsh, who represents Astley Bridge, said: “It is a small minority and I hope the decent residents of Oldhams will be bold enough to speak out about who is doing this.”

A spokesman for Bolton at Home, which runs the Oldhams UCAN centre, said: “We will be liaising with the bus company to help identify solutions.”

Michael Renshaw, Transport for Greater Manchester’s Bus and Rail director, said: “While the situation is regrettable, we would support an operator in withdrawing a bus service temporarily in the interests of the safety of passengers and staff.”

He also reassured passengers that there had been investment in transport Special Constables, CCTV and a dedicated patrol unit.