A HORRIFIED Leigh bus driver has spoken of his terror after a narrow escape when stone throwing yobs smashed the windscreen as he drove through a Tyldesley estate.

Michael Timson, of Ludlow Drive, Higher Fold, was taking passengers through Shakerley when a gang of teenagers lobbed a brick at the vehicle.

This latest in a long-line of terrorfying attacks has led bus company bosses at Glazebury-based Jim Stones Coaches to withdraw the evening service fearing the lives of passengers and drivers are at risk.

Driver Mr Timson, aged 39, has spoken to The Journal about the nightly runs through the housing estate.

And he described the moment when a brick cracked the windscreen as he drove with a bus full of passengers including many elderly.

He said: "I was just coming off the estate on Shakerley Road at about five to nine on Saturday night. There was snow all over the place and the bus was getting snowballed a bit by a group of young lads who were about 13 or 14. I wasn't too worried about that because it does happen a lot.

"But as the bus was moving away one of them threw a housebrick at the windscreen. It left a very bad crack. At the time the bus was full of passengers - there was about 15 people coming off the estate. Most of them were going to Astley Labour Club.

"I stopped the bus when it happened. I was in shock and the passengers were also very shocked and were concerned about me. Thankfully I wasn't injured. You don't expect bricks to be thrown at you. I managed to finish off the bus route and brought the bus back to Leigh. There wasn't much else I could do."

Mr Timson, a bus driver for three years, said there had been several other near misses, including a rock hitting a window right next to an elderly passenger.

He said: "I was driving along Stour Road, the other week, just at the side of the Canal Duke Pub there was a group of young lads and they threw a large rock at the side window. At the time an old lady was sat right by the window. But on that occasion the rock glanced off the window and no damage was done.

"I shouldn't have to put up with this. I don't know what the obsession is with throwing things at buses. It does put drivers off the job."

He added he was now relieved not to have to face the daunting prospect of driving through the estate at night.

The bus company said the 577 Monday to Saturday evening service, will run between Leigh and Tyldesley only.

The Shakerley estate will be missed off the route until further notice.

Other instances of vandalism and yobbish behaviour against buses have included:

A chain being put across the road and when the bus was forced to stop it was pelted with stones

Fireworks being thrown through the emergency exit

Bus drivers being spat at

Drivers bombarded with snowballs when picking up passengers

The emergency engine stop button being pressed causing vehicles to come to a sudden halt

The attacks have led to drivers being issued with moblie phones.

Robert Dyson, manager at Jim Stone Coaches said if problems continued the evening 577 service would be completely withdrawn between Tyldesley and Leigh.

Mr Dyson added: "On the Shakerley estate we have had numerous problems. There has been spitting at the drivers, a lot of stone throwing and someone even opened the emergency doors on the bus and chucked a firework in."

Chiefs at the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority say they are in on-going talks with the bus operator, police and local authorities to try to resolve the matter.

Chief Inspector Ken Dickson of Leigh Police said the incident on Saturday could have caused a serious accident.

"It was a very stupid thing to have done and I would urge anyone who knows anything about it to contact the police."

Cllr Evelyne Smith who runs the early years group at the Shackerley Estate Community Centre said the closure of the evening service would effect local residents.

"There are a lot of elderly people who can't walk across the common. It's going to have a big effect on them.

"If there are problems with youngster the police need to follow it through. But I don't think there are any more problems on this estate than anywhere else."

Details of local bus, train and tram services are available from the public transport information line on 0161 228 7811. Timetable information can be accessed on www.gmpte.com and requests for printed timetables can be made on 0161 242 6040.