VANDAL-hit night bus services in Prestwich are up and running again after crisis talks.

The 92 and 98 services resumed at the weekend after earlier being withdrawn by bus company First in the wake of vandal attacks near St Mary's Park in Bury New Road.

Bosses have praised the co-operation between bus operators and the police, which they hope will safeguard the future of the services.

Both the Bury-Manchester 92 and 98 buses were suspended after 7pm for seven days from December 3 after six vehicles were stoned by yobs in one night.

The services resumed for just one evening before being withdrawn again following another attack.

Last Friday, a crisis meeting involving First, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), local councillors and police decided to restart evening services which were up and running again on Saturday.

It was also decided that should further vandalism occur, it would not necessarily result in services being suspended for the normal seven days.

A spokesman for First said: "The 92 and 98 evening services are now operating normally again.

"There is now intense police activity in the Prestwich area with more officers than normal and also CCTV. We are now hopeful that with the action being taken this will bottle off the trouble.

"Prestwich is still a danger area and it will only take one further incident for the whole situation to be assessed again."

Councillor Gordon Sharkey, Bury's representative on the GMPTE, welcomed the resumption of the services. "I'm pleased the services are now back on the road and will be monitored," he said.