CHILDREN could be seriously injured by stone throwing yobs who have been targeting buses carrying pupils to a Preston school.

Buses taking pupils to Corpus Christi High, in St Vincent's Road, Fulwood, have been attacked three times in six weeks.

The attacks have happened near the corner of New Hall Lane and Blackpool Road, in Ribbleton, and it is believed the culprits may be pupils at Christ the King RC High School, Lawrence Avenue, Frenchwood.

No one has yet been hurt in the incidents but bus chiefs say it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured.

Preston Bus traffic manager John Asquith said: "The cost of a new window is about £70 but that is secondary to the danger of a pupil being seriously injured."

The attacks were made on a service collecting children from the Faringdon Park area.

Mr Asquith said: "We think it may be one individual or a small group throwing the stones, and not because of any rivalry between the schools."

He added the firm had run a service for both the schools for a number of years and the behaviour of pupils had always been exemplary on the buses.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: "Both the headteachers were made aware of an incident on a school bus some weeks ago and the incident was reported to the police.

"The two schools enjoy an excellent relationship and the headteachers are in regular contact with one another.

"If the police choose to take the matter further then the headteachers will be happy to help out with their inquiries."

PC Phil Spencer, community beat officer for Fulwood, said: "I am liaising with the officer from Frenchwood to investigate the problem. Behaviour of this type will not be tolerated from pupils of any school."