A DRIVER has spoken out about repeated attacks on his bus by bottle-throwing youths.

In the latest attack, the driver, who wishes not to be named, had the windows of his Stagecoach bus smashed twice.

The incident occurred on New Year's Eve in Normanton Road, Oakridge, when passengers were showered with glass fragments after a bottle was thrown at a side window.

Other attacks have happened to the driver in Popley and Hatch Warren and similar incidents have been reported by other drivers for bus company Stagecoach.

The driver told The Gazette: "The attitude of these idiots who throw bottles at buses carrying innocent people with the aim of causing harm is disgusting.

"On New Year's Eve, I felt sick to my stomach. Shards of glass were everywhere and one man had to brush glass from his hair. It's a miracle no one was hurt. You dread going to the back of the bus to see what is there.

"You have to ask, where are the parents? I think it's time they took some responsibility in this. These kids go out at night and the parents have no idea where they are or what they get up to."

In the past, the driver's windscreen and side window have been broken by projectiles hurled while he was driving through Popley.

Youths have also opened up the engine and cut the power as the bus waited at a stop in Hatch Warren. They hid in the bushes and when the driver came out to turn it back on, they threw objects and broke the ventilator.

A spokesman for Stagecoach said the level of incidents was relatively low. The chance of one of its vehicles being involved in an incident was once every two years.

Regional marketing manager Helen Martin said: "Stagecoach treat the safety of our customers and staff as an absolute priority and every incident of this type is reported to the police, who are also met regularly to discuss ongoing safety issues.

"In December 2006 and July 2007, new buses in Basingstoke were fitted with digital CCTV systems which check the movement of traffic and pedestrians as well as increase on-board security for passengers and employees."