BUS services could be stopped in parts of Lancaster if vandals con-tinue to use passing double deckers for target practice.

Buses have been in the firing line of stone-throwing yobs across the area in recent weeks.

And now local bus operator Stagecoach North West says that some services could be knocked off to protect both staff and passengers.

While admitting that the action would be a 'last resort', spokes-man Chris Bowles says: "We have a duty of care and responsibility and it would be much better if these people thought about their actions first.

"If we do stop services it is to the benefit of the stupid minority rather than to the benefit of the majority and that is something we wouldn't want - but it is something that we may look into if these incidents continue.

The action threat follows an incident on Saturday night when a Stagecoach service was 'bricked' as it travelled down Bowerham Road towards Lancaster city centre.

A 20-year-old man from the Bowerham area suffered a cut to his head after a brick through one of the upstairs windows.

The bus had just set off from a stop on Bowerham Road at 8.20pm and had travelled about 20-yards when the driver heard glass breaking.

He immediately stopped the vehicle and went upstairs to find the broken window.

Mr Bowles says: "These incidents can be very serious indeed. They cause a great deal of distress to the people involved, whether they are injured or not, and there can be unforeseen consequences.

"And that is without starting on the damage and cost caused by these incidents to our vehicles. We will do our best to get the culprits to court."

The man was not seriously hurt - but police say he was lucky.

"We believe the brick was not thrown deliberately at the man because the bus was moving at the time," says DS Mark Salisbury, of Lancaster CID.

"But this incident illustrates the danger of throwing missiles at vehicles.

"This man could easily have lost an eye had the brick hit a different place. It is sheer stupidity to do things like this and I would appeal to these people to think first."

One local, who asked not to be named, says: "There have been a few problems up here recently and they seem to be escalating.

"The police do what they can - but as soon as they have driven away the yobs reappear and continue to upset people. They are often shouting abuse - but this is the first time I have heard of them doing something like this. It could have been terrible."

A group of around five casually dressed youths were seen running away from the scene shortly after the incident. Police want to speak to them.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 01524-63333 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.