South Essex bus drivers are working in such fear of physical abuse, police could be asked to travel with them for protection.

Incidents of vandalism and criminal damage are increasing on night time routes in Castle Point which has even prompted bus company Thamesway to look at withdrawing services.

However, bosses are set to approach the police in an effort to tackle the problem.

A Thamesway spokesman said: "Certain routes are rougher than others where yobs think that it's fun to smash bus windows and attack our drivers."

Andy Spicer, Thamesway's Hadleigh bus garage operations manager said: "We are considering asking uniformed police to come on the buses to monitor the situation as they have done in other parts of the region. We will not put our drivers' safety in jeopardy and we will pull out of certain evening services if we have to.

"The windows on buses are being smashed by objects on a fairly regular basis and we are lucky that nobody has been injured. Can you imagine what would happen if a brick came through the driver's windscreen?"

The problem is becoming widespread, claimed a spokesman for the Transport and General Workers' Union. He said: "Our bus drivers are very concerned about this ever increasing problem.

"They deserve the maximum protection. We are hopeful that all buses will soon have protective screens and CCTV. This is sadly an increasing trend all over the country and we completely condemn it."

Anyone who witnesses vandalism or threats to bus drivers should call Rayleigh police on 01268 775533.

By Adrian Clark

Reporter's e-mail: adrian.clark@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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