Staff at the town’s Ross Travel company claim gangs of yobs have pelted bricks at bus windows three times in Featherstone this year, recklessly endangering lives.

The firm’s Peter Ross said four troublemakers shattered a window on the 146 service on Priory Road at about 4.50pm on Saturday.

He said: “We used to dread the early dark nights during winter as that was the danger time for attacks, but now it’s all day. On Saturday those hurling rocks at the bus were aged only about 12 to 13, all wearing hoods or scarves.

“It’s really frightening because somewhere along the road a passenger or driver is going to be seriously injured. We want to try and bring this problem to people’s attention, someone must know who is behind it.”

Ross Travel runs daytime services every 20 minutes around Featherstone.

Andy Sterling, manager at firm’s Allison Street depot, said staff were worried that attacks could escalate into assaults on drivers.

He said: “It’s getting so when our drivers see groups of teenagers they expect abuse and violence. If a brick comes flying through a window then it could crash down on a passenger.

“In the youngsters’ minds its just a bit of a game but we want this stopped.”

Karen Kerr, chairman of Featherstone’s Huntwick and Verner Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, has pleaded with parents to stop their children throwing objects at residents’ homes.

She added: “Schoolchildren threw stones at a bus I was on on Monday. The drivers can’t do anything but drive away because they don’t want to get themselves into an even worse situation.”

Insp Dick Jones, of the Normanton and Featherstone Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Throwing missiles at buses is a stupid and reckless thing to do.

“Even if no damage is caused, offences of dangerous behaviour under the Road Traffic Act can result in prison terms of five years.

“So people who are doing this need to consider it is a very serious offence which police will deal with accordingly.”

Witnesses, or anyone with information about the bus attacks, can call the Normanton and Featherstone NPT on 01924 295453 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.