AROUND 30 youths have been dealt with by police for causing damage and disruption to buses.

Young people are said to have smashed windows and tried to get into engines in Houghton-le-Spring.

Superintendent Steven Heatley of Southern Area Command, said: “We will not tolerate disruption to the bus service due to ASB which causes inconvenience to the public and interrupts the bus timetable.

“We will take a robust approach to anyone found causing criminal damage, smashing bus windows or tampering with the buses themselves.

“There have even been reports of youths trying to get access to the bus engine.

“We want to make it clear that anyone identified interfering with the buses will be arrested.”

So far officers have dealt with some 30 youths during the past month, mostly aged between 12 and 14.