VANDALS have been smashing up buses in “mindless” acts, forcing service diversions and suspensions.

The Vantage bus service has been damaged by people throwing bricks and stones causing windows to smash and service users to be endangered, scared and inconvenienced.

In recent weeks there have been more than eight incidents of such vandalism on First’s buses throughout Greater Manchester, some of which concentrated in an area of the busway near Tyldesley, between Astley Street and Sale Lane.

These dangerous acts have forced First Manchester to divert and temporarily suspend services on certain days.

Now the bus company is asking for community leaders, residents and local councillors to help stop a rise in vandalism to their buses.

Adrian Worsfold, First’s operations director, 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.”

Safety is of course the primary concern, but the inevitable knock-on effects, such as delays, are frustrating and could have many ramifications for service users.

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

“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.”

Cllr Nazia Rehman, who represents Tyldesley ward, said: “Incidents such as these understandably cause concern within the community, and we take incidents of vandalism very seriously.

“People have the right to work on and use public transport without having to fear for their safety."

She has pledged to work alongside ward colleagues, Wigan Council and transport bosses to tackle the issue. People with any information about the vandals are being irged to contact police or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers