ESTATE residents are to lose a night-time bus service because vandals as young as six have been throwing stones at vehicles.

Arriva made the decision to stop running its 9/90 service along Weardale Drive, on Bishop Auckland's Woodhouse Close Estate, after a window was broken in the latest attack, on Tuesday night.

The company's commercial director, Steve Burd, said yesterday: "We don't want to endanger any of our passengers or any of our staff by sending buses through there until action is taken."

Arriva is meeting with police and the local authority to discuss the issue.

Richard Langham, Durham county councillor for the estate, supports the company and blames parents for not keeping their children under control.

He said: "It is time the parents realised what is going on and did something about it. I believe they are turning a blind eye to what their children are doing."

Sergeant Steve Ball, of Bishop Auckland police, said Tuesday night's attack was being investigated.

He said: "There have been reports of children throwing stones at buses. It is children as young as six or seven years old."

Councillor Langham is meeting members of the Woodhouse Close Residents Action Group tonight, at 7pm, in the Proudfoot Drive Community Centre, to discuss the issue.