Youths hurl stones at pensioners on bus

Published on Wednesday 2 July 2008 10:27

ELDERLY passengers on a shopping trip were forced to duck for cover as stone-throwing youths pelted their bus.

The six women, aged between 75 and 85, were travelling on a Handicabs' Dial-A-Bus vehicle when it came under attack. The youths, who were wearing school uniforms, hurled stones at the windows from beneath a bridge in Livingston. The damage is estimated at 1500.

One of the windows next to an 80-year-old woman splintered, but the toughened glass prevented it from shattering over her. The passengers were left shocked but uninjured, and had to wait for another bus to be sent to collect them.

It is the second time this year that the bus service has been attacked by youths following an incident two months ago in the Deans area of Livingston. A window was broken which showered an elderly woman with glass.

The vehicle attacked last Thursday was hit at the bus stop at Ladywell West Road, near Da Vinci's Hotel, at around 4pm. The passengers were being taken back to Deans after a trip to the Almondvale Shopping Centre.

The vehicle will now stay in the repair shop for a month while a new window is sourced and fitted.

Handicabs' Gary Toner said: "The passengers were all frail and elderly and they were left very frightened."