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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Saima Akhtar

Buses forced to divert after youths hurl bricks at windows

Buses were forced to divert at Droylsden after objects were thrown at them on Monday evening (6 June).

The incident occurred on the 216 bus route from Ashton-under-Lyne to Manchester at a bus stop in Clayton.

Vandals threw bricks at the bus windows, which forced the driver to divert at Droylsden to the 219 bus route from Ashton-under-Lyne to Manchester, until Great Ancoats Street in Ancoats.

READ MORE: Passenger stunned after being let on bus with 'every window smashed' on Stockport estate

The route was temporarily diverted to ensure the safety of passengers, and later reopened.

The bus stop in Clayton where youths hurled bricks at a bus on the 216 route from Ashton-under-Lyne to Manchester on Monday 6 June 2022 (Google Maps)

The news comes days after a 15-year-old girl was arrested in connection with a spate of criminal damage on buses in Stockport. Buses travelling between Stockport town centre and the Brinnington estate were targeted between May 10 and May 17 this year.

Local resident Liam Wright said that bus vandalism and anti-social behaviour amongst young people is common on bus routes between Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester.

Liam , 36, from Ashton-under-Lyne, said: "This is a recurring problem, all along that line from Ashton to Manchester, but mainly Droylsden and Clayton. It’s treated like a youth centre, and there is little security or ticket inspectors, so kids stay on it all evening, going back and forth, causing trouble.

The 231 stop at Piccadilly Gardens opposite the Victoria Statue in Central Manchester (Manchester Evening News)

"I am a deputy manager at the Aldi near the Ashton stop and groups of kids come in shop-lifting. There have also been groups of girls running in, screaming, and lads have threatened them with knives."

Kate Green, TfGM’s TravelSafe Partnership Manager, said: "Throwing objects at moving vehicles can cause significant damage and could have potentially devastating consequences. There is no excusive for this reckless behaviour which will not be tolerated, as it puts passengers, staff and other members of the public at risk.

"Through the TravelSafe Partnership, TfGM will continue to work with operators and the police to reassure the travelling public by tackling crime and antisocial behaviour."

A Stagecoach spokesperson said: "Service 216 was diverted on Monday 6 June at 19.30 due to antisocial behaviour. The safety of our customers and drivers is of utmost importance to us and so we acted quickly to ensure that everybody on board our services remained safe.

"The area was checked, and the service returned to its normal route at 21.20. We are working with Greater Manchester Police and TravelSafe to resolve the issue.”

Passengers on board a Stagecoach service in Manchester (MEN Media)

GMP has been contacted for comment.

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