IT says a lot for how crime-ridden our society has become that as debate rages about mugging and safety on our streets, police in East Lancashire are having to ride on buses to deter yobs.

Officers in uniform and plain clothes are to ride on specific routes in the Hyndburn area operated by Lancashire United Travel after drivers complained of increasing abuse and anti-social behaviour.

Police say the partnership plan will reassure passengers and send out the message that "it is unacceptable that bus drivers should be afraid of simply doing their job."

CCTV surveillance using digital cameras installed on the vehicles will also be used to deter yobs from offending because they will be identified.

The partnership scheme is also in operation on buses in Burnley and Keighley.

Many people have suffered because of the antics of these yobs.

In some areas, late night bus services have been cancelled because staff are too frightened to man them.

The lack of public transport that results means local residents who rely on it either have to run the risk of walking or not go out at all.

A few years ago the presence of a conductor as well as a driver minimised trouble on buses and passengers would help to quell rowdies fuelled by drink.

Today, knives and other weapons are carried by some yobs as a matter of course so the risks of 'having a go' now are enormous - and police actively discourage the practice.

In the last century, stagecoaches had guards to protect them from being stopped by highwaymen.

Today we need guards riding shotgun because the highwaymen (and assorted thugs who get kicks out of pure violence) are actually riding as passengers. Have we travelled forwards or backwards?