A school bus was attacked by thugs on Wednesday who hurled bricks at it during the morning run.

The incident took place in Harrowden Road, Bedford, immediately after the vehicle had dropped off pupils at John Bunyan Upper School on Mile Road.

As the driver approached a roundabout he saw a group of four or five youths holding bricks and stones, and when he drove past they threw the missiles at the vehicle, breaking a window and damaging the sides of the bus.

Coun Tom Wootton, portfolio holder for highways and transport at Bedfordshire County Council, said: "This is a disgraceful incident and one that the council takes very seriously.

"I shudder to think of what could have happened if schoolchildren were on board and the driver had been hurt.

"Luckily the vehicle had made a drop-off at John Bunyan School and was on its way to pick up more children in Shortstown and take them on to Harrowden Middle School.

"I must praise the bus driver, who kept control of the vehicle at all times this morning.

"I am disgusted at the behaviour of these youths, it's the type of dangerous anti-social behaviour that should not and cannot be tolerated.

"The details of this incident have been handed on to Bedfordshire Police and we'll be working with them to catch these youths and prevent this type of incident happening again."