Bus vandals injure woman

BUS bosses have today issued a warning to vandals who attacked a bus, injuring a woman passenger.

Police are now investigating after a stone was thrown at a First bus in Ipswich, smashing a window and cutting a passenger.

And company bosses have warned vandals that they will prosecute those who attack their vehicles.

The incident has led to an investigation by the bus company and an apology has being issued to the injured woman.

The stone was thrown at the route number one bus at while it was travelling on Nacton Road, Ipswich at around 8.15am on March 8.

A spokesman for First said the investigation was carried out after a woman complained to the driver she had been cut on the cheek.

First traffic superintendent Shawn Daw said: "The incident report describes a stone hitting the window - but it was only when a disembarking passenger pointed it out to the driver that he knew of it.

"The driver then spoke to a woman who had been injured and she reassured him that she was all right. She then got off the bus and the driver took the bus to the depot.

"The lady has since written to us saying she felt unhappy with the situation and the driver's actions. We have replied to say we had taken remedial action with our driver.

"Although he was new and was undoubtedly quite shocked having had his vehicle attacked, we feel there was probably more that he could have done to care for her at the time and we have apologised for that."

Mr Daw added: "Safety is the number one priority of this company. We seek to take action against every attack on our buses - it's so dangerous and costly - and we investigate all incidents thoroughly with the police where necessary."

Were you the woman injured on the bus? Or did you witness this incident? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk