INNOCENT passengers will not suffer because of the actions of a group of vandals, Wilts & Dorset Bus Company has pledged.

The company's operations manager, Chris Gordon, made the pledge following two attacks on a bus in Gainsborough Close, on Salisbury's Bemerton Heath Estate.

The attacks follow similar incidents last year.

Mr Gordon said that, in the latest incidents, on February 24, one of the company's employees was driving the 6.25pm service from the city centre and, as it travelled through Gainsborough Close at 6.55pm, it was hit by a shower of stones.

The driver got off the bus and was subjected to a barrage of abuse from a group of youths, who then ran off towards Woodside Road.

The police were called and officers travelled on the next service - the 7.10pm, which reached Gainsborough Close about 7.25pm.

The bus again came under fire from a group of stone-throwing youths, who made off towards Woodside Road.

A search of the area was made and some youths were spoken to by the officers.

Mr Gordon said the driver was shaken by the incidents but he and his passengers were not injured.

The bus was not damaged, save for a couple of scratches.

"I was very pleased with the police response, which was pretty instantaneous," said Mr Gordon.

"They travelled on the next bus and they had words with a group of youths in the vicinity."

When asked whether the company would scrap the Gainsborough Close route, Mr Gordon said: "I would regard that as an absolute last resort.

"All we would do is to threaten innocent people who are using the buses.

"It would be easy to knock bus services off but I am not looking to do that.

"It will be under constant review, because I have to think of everybody's safety - my drivers, the passengers and other people who might be about when this sort of thing happens.

"But I am hoping that, having the police involved from hour one, it will not be something that will drag on and we shall get to grips with it.

"The police have said they will do periodic checks on random bus services and we shall continue to work with them.

"We ask anyone with information about these attacks, such as descriptions of clothing, to report it to the police."

Mr Gordon said the company had had problems last April, when late-night buses were targeted by vandals.

Police mounted two campaigns, code-named Operation Androcles, when undercover officers rode on the buses and dealt with incidents of vandalism and antisocial behaviour.