A BUS company has been left reviewing its services after having its bus windows smashed both in its yard and on the road on the same day.
Yobs smashed 19 of Southland Travel's 22 coaches, single and double-decker buses in the old Swanley bus garage, London Road, causing up to £40,000 in damage.
And then a brick was hurled through a bus on the 427 route, hitting a member of staff and sparking an urgent review which could see the route from Swanley to West Kingsdown terminating short of the village.
General manager David Booker said: "If any object is thrown at the window and it hits the driver I don't have to tell you what the result could be.
"We must take some sort of action straight away but this will have a devastating effect for West Kingsdown residents if the route does stop short of the village."
Shattered glass on the ground and on the bus seats greeted the first driver to arrive for work at 6am last Friday, who discovered vandals broke in through a hole in the fence.
Alternative vehicles rented for £150 each were brought in to ensure services went ahead that day but the company cannot claim back on insurance.
Mr Booker, who employs 15 drivers for the bus and coach hire operation covering as far as Tunbridge Wells, said: "We're working as best we can to make sure the business will survive but I can't say it's a forgone conclusion yet."
Manager Stephen Wallis made the alternative arrangements that morning and accompanied the driver of the 427 bus in the evening because objects were thrown at it during the day.
But he was hit in the ear when a brick smashed through the window while travelling along Main Road, West Kingsdown, at 6.40pm.
With one driver hit when a padlock was smashed through a 427 window two weeks ago, the company is discussing with Kent County Council (KCC) whether the route should terminate at the Texaco garage, on Main Road, instead.
Mr Wallis said: "It will be a great shame if we're forced to curtail the after-dark services because the only people affected are the passengers."
KCC tranpsort planner Steve Paye said: "As an interim measure we've said they shouldn't continue to operate the service if they feel it's unsafe. In the longer term we'll work with the police to find a means of ensuring we're able to continue the service to West Kingsdown."
Anyone with information on last Friday's attacks, either in Swanley or in West Kingsdown, should call 01322 283111.
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