Lives could be at risk on buses in Basildon as more than 1,000 emergency hammers have been stolen in the past year.

A crackdown is now being launched by First Thamesway and Pitsea police to retrieve the hundreds of tools stolen.

Youths are thought to be to blame for the high number of thefts and are being warned of the serious and life-threatening consequences.

Massive disruption is caused each time one of the £2.50 hammers is stolen as the driver would be breaking the law to move any further.

Chris McCormick, Thamesway traffic manager, said the bus has to stop until the tool is replaced.

He was today optimistic as police in Pitsea joined forces with the frustrated company to retrieve the dangerous tools being used to cause criminal damage around the area.

Alarms have already been attached to the hammers to alert drivers.

PC Barry Woods, of Pitsea police, said officers will be searching people they believe have a hammer.

Anyone found with a hammer - used to smash windows on buses in the case of an emergency - will be arrested.

PC Woods, leading the operation, said: "There is no legal reason for anybody to be carrying one of these hammers. There has been a lot of criminal damage in Pitsea.

"Anyone caught with a hammer can be liable to charges of possession of an offensive weapon, theft or possession with intent to cause damage. People can be arrested on the spot for these."

Mr McCormick said: "This is a problem everywhere but Pitsea has been particularly troublesome lately."

Anyone who finds a hammer should contact PC Barry Woods at Pitsea police on 01268 584212 or First Thamesway.

Chris McCormick of Thamesway is preparing to meet with Insp Glenn Caton of Pitsea police to solve the on-going problem of broken bus windows in Pitsea.

The latest attack saw £400 damage caused to a bus in Wickford.

Have you any of these - PC Barry Woods shows off the hammers

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.