A BUS company today axed an evening service after two armed robbers threatened a driver with a six inch knife.
Blackburn-based DSP Travel said they would no longer operate the council-subsidised evening service between Sunnybower and Feniscowles following the incident at 10pm yesterday.
Transport manager Suzanne Bailey said the driver had been terrified and shocked by the attack which took place when the bus pulled into a stop close to the Sappi Europe site in Livesey Branch Road, Feniscowles.
One youth got onto the bus and asked how much the fare to Blackburn was before producing a black-handled knife with a six inch blade and demanding money. A second youth then boarded the bus and tipped the takings into a green cash bag.
Mrs Bailey said: "They asked the driver for the money and he gave it to them because he wasn't going to put up a fight for £39.12 but he was extremely shaken up and scared by the whole thing. I'm angry about it too and as far as I am concerned we will not be operating that service at night again."
The attack is the latest in a long line of incidents involving East Lancashire's buses, both on and off the road, and follows a recent police campaign to track down youths who were regularly attacking buses and drivers on routes on Blackburn's troubled Fishmoor estate.
Officers identified five youths involved in ambushing buses travelling along Cleveleys Road and Lytham Road after drivers from Blackburn Transport said vehicles were regularly ambushed with stones.
Blackburn bus company Powercraft have also experienced a number of problems and only this week three of their buses have been damaged in an attack. Last month the company said youths were putting lives at risk by pelting buses with bricks in the Moorgate Street area of the town and a driver narrowly escaped serious injury when a window smashed behind his head.
Mrs Bailey went on: "It seems buses have become targets but I'm angry because we have operated the Sunnybower Feniscowles service at night for more than a year and never had any problem and now we are no longer willing to do it.
"Our drivers don't want to put themselves and risk and we wouldn't want them to. Our drivers' safety is more important to us than money."
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident.
The first youth is white, about 18, 5ft 10ins tall and was wearing a blue lightweight Firetrap jacket, jeans and dark shoes.
The second youth was also white, about 18 and 5ft 8ins tall. He was wearing a dark winter coat and dark trousers.
Anyone with any information should contact Blackburn Police on 01254 51212.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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