Bus drivers refuse to go through Kent housing estate after being attacked by teenagers

8 November 2019, 19:35

Bus company Stagecoach is refusing to service a Kent housing estate after dark due to drivers being repeatedly threatened by youths.

Stagecoach drivers have been told not to take their buses onto the Bridgefield estate in Ashford after 6PM out of concerns for their safety.

The ban comes after repeated threats from youths towards the bus drivers.

One driver said the road ahead of his was blocked by young people who then began attacking the bus.

On Tuesday evening, a bus was approached by youths while it rested at a bus stop.

A boy approached the bus driver to ask if he could drive the bus. When the driver refused, the boy threatened the bus driver and hurled abuse at him.

Katherine Jones, operations manager for Stagecoach at Ashford, said: "We've had a number of incidents at Bridgefield since buses began serving the development in August 2017.

"Given the number of incidents and the threats made to our drivers, we've had to suspend the service in the evenings.

"We have a zero tolerance approach to abuse of our staff and we're working closely with the police, who are investigating both these incidents."

Joel Mitchell, managing director of Stagecoach South East, said: "We are gutted that a small minority are preventing us from serving part of the community, which is what we're here for."

Kent Police confirmed that both incidents are being investigated.