YOUR article with the accompanying photograph of three youngsters clinging on to the back of a bus (Echo, Jan 15) suggests that “bus surfing” is a new craze.

I would not describe it as new because more than four months ago I got a visual shock when I drove on Barmpton Lane, Darlington, and saw three youths riding on the back bumper of an Arriva bus headed for the terminus at Asda.

They decided to jump off when the bus stopped near Glamis Road, and blindly bolted across the road into the social flats opposite.

Had there been a vehicle coming up the road the outcome could have been horrendous.

I followed the bus and reported what I saw to the driver. He told me it was common practice.

When I asked him what the two lenses were above the engine cover he said they were camera lenses, but the camera was not working.

I called the Arriva office and they said they would “have a word with the driver” – as if he could have prevented this incident from occurring.

Until such time as the drivers can monitor the engine cover, this practice will continue and tragedies will occur.

Peter Turnbull, Darlington.