VANDALS have smashed the windows of a double-decker bus brought in specially to ensure every child on a Malvern school run has a seat.

The bus, which was targeted with eight other buses at a First in the Midlands depot, was brought in from Northampton to prevent children standing on the 20-minute journey.

The 80-seater double decker was ready to run on the A449 from Powick to Dyson Perrins High School when yobs smashed five windows.

Austin Birks, spokesman for First, said 10 windows had been smashed on other buses in the depot, causing considerable cost and inconvenience.

It costs £250 to replace each window.

Mr Birks said the vandalism took place last Wednesday night at the Padmore Street depot in Lowesmoor and had been reported to the police.

The other buses were now back on the road, thanks to the hard work of the engineering team.

Earlier this month, the Evening News reported how the double-decker bus, the first in decades, was brought in after a protest by Councillor Tom Wells on behalf of worried parents whose children had no seats on the journey to school.

It is hoped repairs will be complete in time to bring it into service next Monday - after the half-term break.

The vandalism follows a spate of recent attacks on buses and coaches.

Last Thursday, the Evening News revealed how families travelling back from a night at Walsall illuminations on a coach belonging to Dudley's Coaches were left shocked after vandals broke a window.

On Tuesday last week, Boomerang Buses made headlines when the firm announced it had withdrawn its Number 36 and 38 services.

It claimed its buses, which ran from 6.30pm to midnight, Monday to Saturday, were withdrawn after bricks were hurled at them last Saturday and Sunday in Warndon's Cranham Drive, at the same place and on the same night that the Dudley's coach was targeted.

Kim Stain, spokeswoman for Worcester Police, confirmed police had received a call about the vandalism at the First depot.

The service is set to start from St Nicholas Street at 7.52am and will go along Bransford Road, instead of Bromyard Road.

Passengers will be set down at the Arts Workshop instead of the bus station in the evening.