HIRED buses are being drafted in to take pupils to school after vandals caused more than £10,000 damage when they went on a wrecking spree in a coach yard.

Police said the vandals gained entrance to the yard of Darwen Coach Services, in Cotton Hall Street, Darwen, some time between 6pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday.

Once in the compound, they smashed windows of all 11 of the company's coaches and stole fire extinguishers from some of the vehicles.

The attacks forced many of the company's school services off the road yesterday and it apologised for the problems that had been caused.

But management vowed to get the full service up and running within two or three days.

The damaged coaches were all being repaired today, which will take about two days and coaches had been hired in.

Owner Dave Russell said: "We are going by the minute just now. It virtually stopped our services yesterday, but we have hire vehicles arriving today, which will be sent out the second they arrive.

"We have at least been able to run some rural services and school services."

Inspector Graham Ashcroft, of Darwen Police, said: "This was an act of mindless and wanton vandalism and we would appeal for anyone with any information to come forward."

Mr Ashcroft added that people who supply reliable information may be eligible for a reward.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.