ATTACKS on buses by youths on a Darlington estate have prompted Arriva North East to cancel its services.

After a series of complaints to police, the company has decided to withdraw services in the Minors Crescent area of the town from tomorrow.

The decision follows a spate of attacks on buses, which drivers say are on the increase.

Local youths have thrown missiles at passing buses, and managers at Arriva have become increasingly concerned for the safety of their customers and staff.

Arriva North East managing director, Steve Noble said last night: "Due to a series of attacks on vehicles in the Minors Crescent area of Darlington, Arriva North East has reluctantly decided to withdraw all services from the area with immediate effect.

"This follows negotiations with local councillors and our employees' representatives.

"Arriva North East places paramount importance on the safety of our customers and employees, and will not compromise their safety.

"I would like to apologise to those residents who now find themselves without a service due to the mindless behaviour of those involved, but hope they will appreciate our reasons for withdrawal.

"We will only consider restoring services once the company is certain that the situation has significantly improved."

Last month, the Stagecoach bus company also threatened to withdraw its services to Branksome and Cockerton, in Darlington, after ten bus windows were broken by stones thrown by vandals.

The company also reported that eggs had been thrown at vehicles, but a spokesman for Stagecoach last night said the situation had improved considerably in the past month.

He said: "We did have problems with missiles being thrown at some of our buses in the Branksome and Cockerton areas, but the situation seems to have improved, and we are no longer looking at cancelling services in that part of the town."

Last night, police confirmed that they had made three arrests following incidents with youths using buses in the town.

A police spokesman said last night: "We were made aware of problems involving youths and buses in the town, and as a result of the complaints we put plain-clothed police officers on a number of services in the town. We made three arrests.