THREE young mothers were beaten about the face by two thugs on the bus from Lancaster to Morecambe on Saturday night.

One of the three sisters and mothers, Alexandra Mayler, told of her shock and terror at the beating - and absence of any help from those around them.

Alexandra, 22 of Sandylands Promenade had been with her two sisters Vicky and Amy Emmett, 26 and 21.

They headed back on a number two bus at about 11.30pm from Lancaster Police Station.

She remembered: "They were both in their 30s and they were being really lewd and drunk. They were abusing everyone and people started to get off the bus because of them. They were with two women who were just giggling with them.

"Eventually we turned round and said 'you're out of order.' They called us tarts and slags and then one started punching me over and over again in the face. Vicky came over and the other one started punching her."

In the end all three women were punched and kicked in their faces by the men while on the bottom deck. Alexandra said all three women were annoyed that the driver of the bus had not stopped or called for assistance. The women had all been checked over by a doctor but weren't seriously hurt. They fled the bus, which was bound for the Battery, at York Bridge in Morecambe.

Stagecoach Cumbria Managing Director John Gould commented: "If what I'm told about this is right the driver did not behave as we would expect. He is away on holiday for a fortnight but when he returns we will conduct an investigation. We want to establish what happened first."

Police spokesman DS Martin Clague said: "This was an unprovoked assault on three young mothers. We urge anyone with any information at all about this to contact Morecambe police on 63333."

The first attacker was 30 to 32 years old, slim, with fair receding hair. He was about 5ft 8in tall with blue eyes. He wore round glasses, a black and yellow Blackburn Rovers change shirt, blue denim jeans and trainers.

The second was also 30 to 32 years old with short dark hair. He was 5ft 11in and olive skinned.

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