A BUS service on a Bacup council estate could resume shortly after being suspended following an attack on a vehicle.

The 484 service, operated by Rossendale Transport and Blackburn-based Lancashire United Ltd, through the Pennine Road estate was stopped after a driver was hit with a stone on June 26.

Robert Edwards, bus operations manager said: "The bus service is still off but we are looking at a means to put it back on soon.

"Some of the passengers are upset but some are also very understanding of the problems.

"We cannot have the situation where our drivers are being injured and we had to take a stand in support of our colleagues from Lancashire United."

The driver, in his 30s and from Blackburn, had his window open because it was a hot day and was driving the bus on Pennine Road when about five or six youths surrounded the bus and threw two stones. One bounced off an window but the second hit him on his head above his ear stunning him but fortunately he was not knocked unconscious.

Mr Edwards said: "That could have been someone's granny who had been hit with the stone and we feel justified in taking the action we did to ensure the safety of our drivers and passengers.

"It is very sad that older people have had to incur more expense getting taxis to take them home with their shopping but safety must be paramount. We will hopefully be able to resume the buses shortly once we have assurances from the police that they will be closely monitoring the situation."

In April the bus companies were forced to take the same action after a spate of stone throwing incidents left buses with thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Police have not arrested anyone for the latest incident although CCTV footage has been examined.