A MAN broke into a bus depot, stole a bus and ended up crashing it into a wall, First Bus officials have confirmed.

The intruder abandoned the vehicle after smashing into a 6ft wall at the First Bus depot in Magdalen Street, Colchester, while trying to drive it away from the site on Thursday night.

The would-be thief then disappeared into the night.

First Bus beefed up security at its Queen Street depot last year after a similar incident which led to the culprit being locked up.

It is still trying to establish how the intruder got into the bus and started the engine.

A spokesman said: “We’re working closely with the police to try to identify who the individual was and how they accessed the bus so easily.

“The damage to the vehicle was purely cosmetic and after a full inspection and a safety check, it was back in service the next day.

“Since a similar incident last year, we have greatly increased our security and put many procedures in place to help keep the buses safe and secure when they are unattended.

“All our vehicles are stored overnight in secure locations inaccessible to the public.”

However, a source, who we agreed not to name, has claimed some of First’s buses could still be started by the flick of a switch.

He said: “The vehicles have had their immobilisers removed, so anybody could start one of them.

“If you release the handbrake, the bus will go on its own. I know howdangerous buses are and if the wrong people get behind the wheel.

“People shouldn’t be able to start them in that sort of way.”

A police spokesman confirmed they were investigating the Magdalen Street incident, on Thursday, at 10.10pm.

Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester