Thrill-seeking youths are putting lives at risk in a dangerous new craze of lying down in the road in front of oncoming buses.
The antisocial tearaways are causing chaos on bus routes by stopping drivers in their tracks, disrupting services and putting their own and passengers' lives in danger as part of a deadly game of "chicken".
The craze is sweeping through Whitehawk in Brighton, where residents have complained about a catalogue of incidents as they make their way home on the buses.
At times, buses have found themselves under siege by youths throwing stones or bricks as they drive through the estate.
Residents and bus drivers are fed up with the antisocial acts committed by young people in the area, which affect the number 1 and 1A bus route from Swanborough Drive in Whitehawk, past the Royal Sussex County Hospital, to Mile Oak.
The problem is worse around the St Cuthman's Church area in Whitehawk Way, although buses have been attacked with stones and a brick near the Whitehawk Road bus garage.
On Monday, three buses had to be taken out of service on the Whitehawk route because of smashed windows or vandalism and the police were called on at least two occasions.
A Sussex Police spokeswoman said that on Monday a bus was vandalised at 4.15pm.
Officers were called at 5.25pm after half a brick was thrown through a top window of a bus travelling along Whitehawk Way. No one was injured.
At 6.15pm a bus inspector reported young people throwing stones andlying in the middle of the road to stop a bus from continuing on its journey. The service had to be diverted along Wilson Avenue.
The police were also called at 7.30pm the day before after two girls and five boys kept opening the emergency doors at the back of the bus, stopping it from driving away.
Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, said: "Sometimes they put obstacles in the road and sometimes they throw stones. Lying in the road is sporadic behaviour but it is also ridiculous.
"These people should grow up and start acting responsibly. They are putting themselves and other people in danger."
At the Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum at Valley Social Centre in Whitehawk Way, Brighton, yesterday, residents voiced their concerns about the antisocial behaviour and how it was affecting those who use the bus service.
Phil Doyle said: "On Monday I was down by Lidl and every bus that went past was out of service because of young people lying in the road outside the St Cuthman's Church area.
"There was an elderly woman waiting for the bus and she was freezing by the time an available service turned up.
"This is causing a problem because I cannot stand for long and for anybody with mobility problems it is not good when buses are cancelled in the middle of the winter."
Inspector Steve Curry, who covers East Brighton, said: "This is silly and dangerous behaviour.
"What we believe they are doing is waiting until the buses have stopped and then lying across the road so the driver cannot carry on with the journey.
"If someone is lying in the road they are presenting a very clear danger not only to themselves but to other people.
"We will be investigating and these people will be identified and held to account."
East Brighton councillor Gill Mitchell said: "This is extremely dangerous and foolhardy behaviour and I would encourage all those concerned to pack it in.
"They are disrupting people's journeys as well as putting themselves and others at risk.
"I trust the relevant agencies will identify these young people and appropriate action will be taken. It isn't just a case of hard measures - we need to work with the young people, engage with them.
"There are lots of people working together on projects in the Whitehawk area offering these kind of opportunities. Behaviour like this lets the whole community down."
The antisocial tearaways are causing chaos on bus routes by stopping drivers in their tracks, disrupting services and putting their own and passengers' lives in danger as part of a deadly game of "chicken".
The craze is sweeping through Whitehawk in Brighton, where residents have complained about a catalogue of incidents as they make their way home on the buses.
At times, buses have found themselves under siege by youths throwing stones or bricks as they drive through the estate.
Residents and bus drivers are fed up with the antisocial acts committed by young people in the area, which affect the number 1 and 1A bus route from Swanborough Drive in Whitehawk, past the Royal Sussex County Hospital, to Mile Oak.
The problem is worse around the St Cuthman's Church area in Whitehawk Way, although buses have been attacked with stones and a brick near the Whitehawk Road bus garage.
On Monday, three buses had to be taken out of service on the Whitehawk route because of smashed windows or vandalism and the police were called on at least two occasions.
A Sussex Police spokeswoman said that on Monday a bus was vandalised at 4.15pm.
Officers were called at 5.25pm after half a brick was thrown through a top window of a bus travelling along Whitehawk Way. No one was injured.
At 6.15pm a bus inspector reported young people throwing stones andlying in the middle of the road to stop a bus from continuing on its journey. The service had to be diverted along Wilson Avenue.
The police were also called at 7.30pm the day before after two girls and five boys kept opening the emergency doors at the back of the bus, stopping it from driving away.
Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, said: "Sometimes they put obstacles in the road and sometimes they throw stones. Lying in the road is sporadic behaviour but it is also ridiculous.
"These people should grow up and start acting responsibly. They are putting themselves and other people in danger."
At the Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum at Valley Social Centre in Whitehawk Way, Brighton, yesterday, residents voiced their concerns about the antisocial behaviour and how it was affecting those who use the bus service.
Phil Doyle said: "On Monday I was down by Lidl and every bus that went past was out of service because of young people lying in the road outside the St Cuthman's Church area.
"There was an elderly woman waiting for the bus and she was freezing by the time an available service turned up.
"This is causing a problem because I cannot stand for long and for anybody with mobility problems it is not good when buses are cancelled in the middle of the winter."
Inspector Steve Curry, who covers East Brighton, said: "This is silly and dangerous behaviour.
"What we believe they are doing is waiting until the buses have stopped and then lying across the road so the driver cannot carry on with the journey.
"If someone is lying in the road they are presenting a very clear danger not only to themselves but to other people.
"We will be investigating and these people will be identified and held to account."
East Brighton councillor Gill Mitchell said: "This is extremely dangerous and foolhardy behaviour and I would encourage all those concerned to pack it in.
"They are disrupting people's journeys as well as putting themselves and others at risk.
"I trust the relevant agencies will identify these young people and appropriate action will be taken. It isn't just a case of hard measures - we need to work with the young people, engage with them.
"There are lots of people working together on projects in the Whitehawk area offering these kind of opportunities. Behaviour like this lets the whole community down."
