A DRIVER and passenger narrowly escaped serious injury when a gang of youths hurled bricks at a minibus last night.

The vandals aged eight to 16 years missed the driver and passenger by inches with a brick which shattered a five-foot window on the minibus from Powercraft Coaches, Blackburn.

The vehicle was forced out of service leaving scores of regular passengers waiting at bus stops throughout Blackburn.

The incident at 9.50pm outside the Spar store on New Chapel Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, is the latest in a spate of attacks on the Powercraft minibuses.

Paul Critchley, a director of Powercraft, said: "Gangs regularly pelt vehicles with eggs and mud but this time it was more serious. The driver and passenger were in shock. Someone could have been seriously injured in this attack. The parents of these youngsters should know what their children are up to."

He added that the attack will cost the company £150 to repair the damage, as well as lost revenue and customers.

"This is costing us money having the bus off the road and wrecking a much-needed bus service. We have let a lot of people down and will have lost customers with people not understanding why the service was cancelled last night."

Police are investigating the incident.

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