Stone-throwing yobs who terrorised elderly passengers on a bus in the Thorpe Edge Estate could put local transport services in jeopardy, a ward councillor warned yesterday.

The hooded thugs hurled a stone at the TLC-owned 660 bus as it made its way from Bradford to Shipley, smashing a large side window with a huge bang.

Luckily the toughened and laminated glass did not break, but it cracked under the impact.

Four pensioner passengers escaped unhurt in the attack, which happened outside York House on the Thorpe Edge estate at 4.50pm on Thursday.

One of the passengers, Derek Crabtree, of Highfield Road, Idle, said: “Fortunately the large window close to the doorway had safety glass which did not disintegrate, but the bus could not travel any further.

“It was a loud bang and it was a shock for the driver as well as the passengers. I got a glimpse of who did it.

“It was a group of young teenagers, some of them on bikes, who then vanished off into the estate.

“Although the window held together, the driver felt it wasn’t safe to continue,” said Mr Crabtree, 81. The Shipley-bound single decker bus was unable to continue its journey and the passengers had to transfer to a First bus to reach Five Lane Ends.

A spokesman for Bradford bus firmTLC said they could not comment on the incident as police had already launched an investigation. But he confirmed the stone-throwing incident and said on-board CCTV footage was being passed on immediately to those officers involved.

Eccleshill councillor Geoff Reid said he was dismayed by this latest incident. z“We’ve had this before in Thorpe Edge – indeed I was on a bus last year when the same thing happened as we travelled down Rockwell Lane.

“It was a yob who threw a stone, then scuttled away on his bike “In terms of the area this sort of anti-social behaviour is such a bad thing.

“The last thing we want is for bus companies or their drivers refusing to come onto Thorpe Estate, which is what happened in Ravenscliffe a while back,” said Coun Reid, who represents Bradford on the local transport authority.

A West Yorkshire police spokesman said they were gathering evidence and anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Passeger transport authority Metro said it was committed to providing safe travel for its millions of passengers.

“Metro, West Yorkshire Police and the bus operators are dedicated to working together, through initiatives such as the Safer Travel Partnership, to make them even safer."