A FAMILY-run bus firm is flourishing just six months after being plagued by vandals.

The sheer number of attacks on buses forced Maytree Travel bosses to divert one route and get the police to monitor another in Deane.

Maytree drivers suffered 10 attacks in the first 41 days of 2012, compared with nine in the whole of 2011.

On February 10, two yobs threw bricks at a bus forcing it to stop in Higher Swan Lane, Great Lever.

They then kicked and punched a 71-year-old man, leaving with him serious head injuries, though he fully recovered.

Maytree managing director Gary Hawthorne said there have been no incidents since the incident on February 14.

The company has now launched the 502 and 503 services on July 29 serving Ladybridge and Morris Green.

It also extended the hours of the 510 between Bolton and Bury, the 519 between Bolton and Johnson Fold and the 538 and 539 Egerton Circular.

Mr Hawthorne said: “After the problems we had earlier this year, we worked with police and other groups to address the problems and, thankfully, the measures taken proved extremely successful.

“I am pleased to say that our passengers and drivers are able to travel safely on all our services.

“We hope the new and extended services meet our customers’ needs.”

Yobs threw a brick at the 570 bus in Kirkebrok Road, Deane, on January 5 and again on January 7.

A youth tried to smash a window of a 559 in Deane Church Lane, Deane, on January 7 and others threw eggs at a 534 in McKenzie Street, Astley Bridge , on January 10.

Vandals smashed windows of a 576 on Wigan Road on January 18 and a 570 in Hulton Lane and at a 583 in Warwick Road, Daubhill, on January 28.

Daniel Blythe, aged 18, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 32 months in a young offender’s institute after admitting assault and criminal damage following the Great Lever attack.

Joshua Thompson, aged 19, of Cobham Avenue, Great Lever, was found guilty by a jury of assault.

He is due to be sentenced on August 13.

A police spokesman said: “We are pleased to hear there has been an improvement and will continue to work with the company whenever it is needed.”