PUPILS in Sunderland are the driving force behind a scheme to stamp out anti-social behaviour.

The youngsters from schools in Sunderland Police's West Area Command are to adopt their local buses in an attempt to look after them.

Youths in the area have endangered safety for local bus users by regularly targeting them with missiles.

Now, in an effort to educate youngsters about protecting their public services, pupils have been given the opportunity to have their own bus.

Buses running between the schools will carry a message that each bus has been adopted by a school.

The first school to take part in the scheme was Hastings Hill Primary School, which adopted its bus on Friday.