FOUL-mouthed and rowdy students have been forced to sign a good behaviour agreement after passengers on a bus complained that travelling on the route had become 'a nightmare'.

The E3 bus, serving Greenford, Hanwell, Northfields and Acton as well as Chiswick, has become a no-go area for many users since pupils from Chiswick Community School began their reign of terror.

The complaints, which were posted on a Chiswick community website, include accusations of fighting, swearing, shouting and shoving passengers out of the way by pupils as young as 11.

And they have prompted new Chiswick Community School headteacher, David Brockie, to establish the Home School Agreement, which states what is expected from children in terms of conduct to and from school.

The issue was raised by Paul Allen, on the www.chiswickw4.com website, who claimed that his wife has sought an alternative route to work and said that 'drivers of the bus deserve a medal for putting up with such offensive behaviour'.

Another resident. Patricia Zengerle, labelled the E3 'a bus for hooligans' and a parent said that her son 'finds the E3 a nightmare and prefers to walk to school'.

Mr Brockie, whose school is in Burlington Lane, responded by launching the agreement on Monday. He said: "The behaviour of our students in the community is certainly a school concern, but is a shared responsibility with parents and members of the public.

"Parents and children will sign the document after discussing it so that each individual understands what we expect in terms of conduct to and from school. Any pupil identified as a trouble-maker will be disciplined."

A spokeswoman for First London Buses, which operates the route, said: "We have had problems with pupils on that route but are working with the school to eradicate them."

By.Mark Choueke