POLICE are hunting thugs who hurled a missile at a crowded bus leaving two women with facial injuries. The stone hit one woman in the face and showered a grandmother with glass.

It was thrown with such force that it smashed through a window on one side and went out through a window on the other side of the bus.

The number 13 Thamesdown bus was packed when it came under fire on Saturday afternoon as it travelled down Queen's Drive, near to New College.

Both of the injured women were taken to Great Western Hospital. A 50-year-old, who did not want to be named, suffered two black eyes and a suspected broken nose.

Beryl Campbell, 60 had pieces of glass stuck in her face.

Police described the actions of the yobs as reckless and said if the missile had hit the driver's window, the bus could have gone out of control with fatal consequences.

Mrs Campbell, a grandmother of two and mother of three from Park South, was on her way home after visiting her sister in Calne.

"The bus was quite crowded," she said. "I saw these two boys standing by the path, they only looked about eight or nine, and one of them had his arms thrown back with something in his hand. I thought to myself 'that little sod is going to throw something.'

"The next thing I knew everything exploded. It happened so quickly there was no time for me to get out of the way. There was glass all over my lap and in my face and my hair.

"My glasses were the only thing that stopped me from being blinded if I hadn't been wearing them the glass would have gone into my eye.

"The thought of what could have happened if the glass had gone into my eyes is just horrible it makes me shudder," she said.

"I couldn't stop shaking for 24 hours after it happened. It was terrifying and I keep going over and over it in my head.

"I'd like to get hold of those kids and wring their necks."

PC Paul Johnson, of Swindon Police, said: "If the missile had hit the driver and he had lost control of the bus the consequences could have been tragic.

"A witness saw two young boys aged between about 10 and 12 years old running off from the scene. One was wearing a tan or grey coloured jumper or jacket but that is the only description we've got."

It is believed the children may have used a catapult to fire the stone.

Anyone with information should contact Swindon police on 01793 528111.

Security reviewed

THAMESDOWN Transport is reviewing bus security following the attack.

Managing director John Owen said side-facing CCTV would be installed on some buses in a bid to capture the culprits on camera, while the windows of some buses had already been strengthened.

"It's mindless behaviour really," he said. "It amazes me anybody, even children, could be as stupid as this.

"The potential for serious injury or even death is obviously there.

"It concerns us greatly for the safety of our passengers and drivers. We have taken steps to try to stop this.

"On some of the later buses the windows have been strengthened and we are looking at putting side-facing CCTV on the buses that already have CCTV.

"Apart from the risk of injury we're angry passengers are having to pay more for their bus fares because of this sort of thing. It costs us money to repair the damage and it has to be paid for somehow.

"Such incidents are rare and passengers should not feel overly worried."

Diana Milne