A BUS service that was withdrawn after being repeatedly pelted by stone throwing yobs is to be reinstated.

Bus company Arriva took two of its evening services through the village of Thornley, east Durham, off the roads following a spate of incidents, one of which resulted in a bus driver being injured.

Following urgent talks arranged by Durham County Council, the services will be reinstated from tomorrow after the police agreed to step up patrols to deter further attacks.

The services affected are the 22 from Durham to Hartlepool and the 213 Sunderland to Darlington, via Peterlee.

Talks took place yesterday between Arriva, Durham County Council, Durham Police and Easington District Council.

Local County Councillor Morris Nicholls said he was delighted that an agreement had been reached.

But he warned that any further stone-throwing incidents would result in the services being withdrawn again.

He said it would be much more difficult to win them back.

"The actions of a handful of thoughtless and irresponsible hooligans meant that people in Thornley virtually lost their mobility after 7pm," said Coun Nicholls.

"I'm grateful to all the parties for agreeing to meet to address this problem."