A ZERO tolerance approach will be taken against yobs who target buses and put the driver and passengers at risk following a spate of attacks in Bolton ­— one of which left a driver with glass in his eye after bricks were thrown at his vehicle.

Police and transport chiefs have warned they will "act swiftly" to catch those responsible.

Bolton has the third highest number of attacks on buses in Greater Manchester ­— with eight being recorded in just three months.

Only Manchester and Wigan recorded more such incidents.

A total of 49 separate incidents of criminal damage to buses, with many being a result of various objects, including bricks, baseball bats and scooters thrown at moving vehicles being recorded in Greater Manchester.

Now, the Greater Manchester TravelSafe Partnership (TSP) has warned it is taking swift action, reviewing footage to identify those involved and using combined operator intelligence to target patrols in the areas where incidents are most likely to occur.

The Bolton News has reported on several occasions when bus operators have cut short a route because of risk to safety ­— and only this month a driver was left with glass in his eye after a gang threw bricks smashing a window.

A group of vandals – believed to be youths – approached a Vision Bus 129 service, which runs from Higher Green to Farnworth, in Mosley Common and hurled several bricks at the bus, shattering three windows and the glass of a door.

With most attacks believed to involve teenage youths, the TSP is also carrying out educational work in targeted schools, using driver interviews to reinforce the human impact of the incidents.

Inspector Jon Middleton of GMP's Transport Unit said: "Our Transport Unit and local policing teams are currently investigating these reports and take a zero-tolerance approach to this kind of behaviour that puts our communities at risk.

"Antisocial behaviour on public transport is not acceptable and can have a major effect on other passengers. We will continue to work hard with partners to ensure that people feel safe and can travel without intimidation or feeling threatened by the behaviour of others. I would like to thank the majority of our communities who respect those that help our transport network run and would appeal to everyone to be considerate to others and to continue reporting crime to ourselves."

Incidents recorded in Bolton include the 571 bus having missiles thrown at it in Lever Edge Lane and Swan Lane, Great Lever, the 562 recording criminal damage and anti-social behaviour in Red Lane and Newby Road, Breightmet and threatening behaviour in Bolton Interchange.

The partnership shares data and intelligence and, thanks to bodycams, call points on all trams and stops, over 2000 CCTV cameras across the Metrolink network and a 24/7 control room, is said to help coordinate a quick response to live incidents.

Matt Rawlinson, Diamond Bus North West Deputy Managing Director, said: “As a local bus company, like many other businesses, we are struggling to recover from the financial impact of Covid-19 ­—but we are positive about growing bus services in Greater Manchester and we have continued with our £3.6 million investment in new vehicles.

“The safety of our staff and customers is not a position we want to be in but unless we can work with the community to put a stop to these dangerous acts of vandalism we will have no choice but to remove services when incidents occur.”