A GROUP of innocent bus spotters have been vilified as perverts after they took pictures of a school bus with students sitting inside it.

More than 7,000 Facebook users have shared a post by a concerned parent who has reported a group of men photographing a school bus in Manningtree to the police.

However, a resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the men taking photographs of the bus were innocent bus spotters.

She said teachers had asked the bus enthusiasts to stop taking photographs but they refused because they were on public ground and so were acting legally.

The woman said: “Children inside the vehicle took photos and videos of the spotters. This was then blown out of all proportion by a small number of parents and the photographers may be at risk of vigilante action.”

She said she was appalled at the vitriolic comments left on the Facebook post and is concerned the individuals targeted may be at risk of getting attacked.

She said: “While bus photography is an incomprehensible hobby to many, I don’t like to see spotters portrayed as perverts, paedophiles or weirdos.

“Bear in mind that some transport photographers may be less socially aware. It is not just transport enthusiasts whose safety is threatened by over-reactive parents.

She added: “Contrary to many parents’ belief, photographers don’t need parental permission to take photos in public places where children may be present.”

In response to the Facebook post, a Public Service Vehicle Circle Group spokesman said the men were known to be bus enthusiasts even though most of the comments made them out to be something more sinister.

He said: “Whilst they may be within the law in photographing something from the street, we should all be aware that most of the general public do not understand our hobby.

“We should be aware that if we take a photo of a school bus, or a service bus that has a large number of children on it, some of the public will make it out to be more sinister.

“Telling these people we are within the law will cut no mustard with them, if anything it may make things worse and they could take the law into their own hands.”

He said he is asking bus spotters not to stop taking photos of school vehicles, but to think before they take them.

A spokesman for Manningtree High School said they were aware of the incident and had reported it to the police and informed primary schools in the area.

She said: “The school is aware of the situation and we have warned primary schools in the area about it.”