UNIFORMED and non-uniformed police officers will travel on buses for the second time in 15 months after an attack on a bus driver.

The move follows the assault which happened at about 11pm last Thursday when a gang of five youths forced a bus to stop by Loxley Close in Church Hill.

The driver received cuts to his face after being hit by a can which had been hurled through his window by one of the youths.

The attack took place shortly before another gang member got on to the bus and stole cash and the driver's mobile phone.

The youth who threw the can was described as white, 15 to 17 years old and wearing a blue hooded jacket, dark trousers and white trainers.

The other youths were all said to be wearing hooded tops.

Police officers started travelling on buses in April 2001 in an effort to eradicate assaults on bus drivers.

That initiative followed a spate of attacks on First Midland Red drivers who had been left fearing for their safety.

It was hoped the operation would also act as a deterrent to potential troublemakers and instill confidence in passengers.

In February a passenger was stabbed, an incident which led to urgent talks between Redditch MP Jacqui Smith, the police, council chiefs and First Midland Red bosses to look at security on buses and ways to improve it.

Only last week, the Redditch Advertiser revealed that security had been stepped up with the installation of CCTV cameras on town buses.