Richard Cranmer, director of Darlington-based Green Bus Company, says drivers and passengers are at risk from youths in the town.

Now he has warned he will pull out of the Redhall area if the attacks, which have damaged vehicles, continue.

Council officials have urged the public to help in tracking down those responsible.

Services on the estate were only introduced after appeals from Darlington councillors, who said elderly people needed regular public transport.

But in recent weeks there have been a growing number of attacks on buses by youths using ambush tactics.

This service is very important to the community and I am absolutely disgusted at the behaviour of a small minority Councillor Chris McKewan

Mr Cranmer said: "The main problems we have been encountering have related to children who pretend to want to get on the bus and when the driver stops they throw stones at it.

"In this particular area there are a number of trees which provide natural shelter for them. They just sit in the trees and slow the buses down.

"We have recently introduced a 10mph speed limit in this area to reduce the risk of hitting children. But we are the victim of our own safety measures by having more stones thrown at us.

"The last thing we want is a seven-ton bus going out of control."

First priority

Darlington councillor Chris McKewan said: "Before we got this service we were in a situation where elderly people found it hard to even get to the post office.

"This service is very important to the community and I am absolutely disgusted at the behaviour of a small minority."

Community worker Sue Davison said the withdrawal of services would have a big impact on the estate's elderly population.

She said: "The bus services are vital to elderly people on the estate as there is very low car ownership."

But Mr Cranmer said his first priority was the safety of staff and passengers.

He added: "We, the council and the police are trying to improve the lot of people on the estate, but these children seem determined to destroy everything that is being done to help them.

"I have a duty to protect my drivers and my customers and nothing will prevent me from taking that responsibility."