Troubled bus service reinstated

Service 35 will return to normal on 6 September

A bus service suspended for nearly a year after drivers were repeatedly attacked is to be reinstated.

The Yellow Buses 35 service, which runs through Townsend in Bournemouth, was suspended in October 2003 after being targeted by gangs of teenagers.

The yobs threw rocks and fireworks at buses and drivers were verbally abused.

The trouble also led Royal Mail to suspend their collections, but now both services are returning to normal due to a joint police and community scheme.

In particular elderly people felt trapped as many of them have no other means of transport Police spokesman Nick Cloke

Speaking to BBC News Online police spokesman Nick Cloke described the events leading up to the suspension as an escalating series of attacks.

"Stones, rocks and even fireworks were thrown at the buses and the drivers were regularly abused and sworn at, and many of the troublemakers tried to avoid paying their fares," he said

"In particular, elderly people felt trapped as many of them have no other means of transport."

The estate will now become one of Dorset Police's "policing priority areas" and get a dedicated project manager to focus their resources in the area.

A new youth centre, which provides a number of activities for young people on the estate, has also recently opened.

In addition, there are also plans for a new CCTV camera near the centre of the estate.

Royal Mail resumed their collections two months ago and the bus service will return to normal from 6 September.