IPSWICH: A vandal smashed the windows of five buses, putting them out of service ahead of a busy rush hour and costing the bus company more than �2,000.

Staff at First Buses arrived at the Star Lane engineering depot last Sunday to find smashed glass on the forecourt.

Engineering manager for the firm, Tesfah Guwazah, said an emergency hammer from one of the vehicles was used to crack the rear windscreens of five buses.

“The hammer used was taken from the side of one of the buses, we found it thrown underneath one of them.”

Two of the windscreens were completely shattered while the others were left with cracks running across them.

“When we discovered what had happened, we were all shocked,” said Mr Guwazah.

“It did cause us real problems because the buses were supposed to go out the next morning, but obviously they had to be taken out of service.

“In lost revenue, labour and parts it has cost the company about �2,500.”

Suffolk police are today urging anyone with information to come forward to help with their inquiries.

Mr Guwazah also encouraged witnesses to contact police.

He said: “We would like to see those responsible caught.

“We do not want anything like this to happen again. We will not tolerate vandalism.”

The vandals struck at some point between 3am and 5am on Sunday morning.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said anyone who was in the area at the time and saw or heard anything suspicious should contact officers.

Witnesses should call the Crime Investigation Bureau on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

n Have you been the victim of crime? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.