HUNDREDS of people could be deprived of two bus services because of a dangerous game played by a gang of youths.

The gang has been getting on buses near Firthmoor Community Centre and activating the stop switch from behind the engine cover at the back of the bus. This then cuts the engine and stops the bus.

Officials at Stagecoach which runs two services on the Firthmoor estate have now threatened to withdraw their buses if the youths do not stop vandalising their transport.

John Fraser, from Stagecoach said: "This is extremely dangerous and someone is going to get hurt if these youngsters do not stop doing this.

"It is not just the fact that they are stopping the busses but just lifting the engine covers can be dangerous in itself. What we don't want is someone to lose a finger or worse."

As well as causing a nuisance to the drivers and passengers, the youths area also damaging the buses by bending the stop switches, making it difficult for them to continue on their journeys.

The situation has got so bad in the last few weeks that Stagecoach are now threatening to reroute its number 20 and 24 services away from the estate.

Mr Fraser said: "This is a real warning to the young people who are doing this. If it continues we will look into discontinuing the services.

"They are jeopardising a service that a lot of people use but we can't allow this dangerous practice to continue."

Most of the attacks have taken place in the early evening and all have involved a group of teenagers.

The threat to suspend the service follows a similar situation in the Skerne Park area of Darlington last year.

Bus company Arriva North-East withdrew vehicles to the estate after 6pm following a string of vandalism and assaults on drivers and passengers.

Buses to the estate were stopped for several days and only reinstated after police and Neighbourhood Watch wardens assured Arriva they would work to stop the attacks.