Schoolchildren have filmed and starred in their own hard-hitting film to warn of the dangers of anti-social behaviour on buses.

Pupils at Thornton Grammar School performed in and directed Schools Out, an educational DVD which features an old First bus being set alight.

The film will be premiered at the Leaventhorpe Lane school tomorrow.

Mr Thornton said: “The burning of a bus was an explosive way of getting across our message that anti-social behaviour on buses will not be tolerated. The DVD shows a number of different scenarios with realistic consequences of unsafe and anti-social behaviour.”

After the launch, the DVD will be rolled out to more than 100 primary schools across Bradford alongside a roadshow presented by First’s early- intervention team.

It will be used as part of the company’s early-intervention student behaviour programme, introduced in September last year in response to anti-social behaviour involving school children on buses. A wave of criminal damage on First buses in spring last year led to police riding shotgun on some routes.

Buses targeted included those taking children to and from Challenge College in Frizinghall, St Joseph’s Catholic College in Manningham and St Bede’s Catholic Grammar in Heaton, following outbreaks of violence and vandalism.

Mr Thornton said: “The situation has now improved substantially. We have come full circle – in 2005/06 there was a significant problem but a number of targeted initiatives have changed things completely. The new DVD will add to that. It is an extremely hard-hitting film that young people who commit anti-social behaviour on buses will be caught and prosecuted.”

First also hopes to use the DVD, produced with help from West Yorkshire Police and fire services, in cities where it operates public transport across the country.

Dave Wells, health and safety manager for First in Bradford, said: “Producing the DVD with the help of the students will highlight the importance of safe behaviour on public transport.”

Project co-ordinator, Dave Lloyd, of Thornton Grammar School, said: “All the students enjoyed and valued the education gained by this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to direct and act in this production.”

e-mail: dan.webber@telegraphandargus.co.uk