AN elderly man was showered with glass after the bus he was travelling in came under attack from yobs.

The man was one of several passengers who were forced to take cover when two buses were targeted by a gang.

The vehicles had their windows smashed they travelled along Shirley Road, near to Mandela Way just after yesterday morning’s rush hour.

Passengers said that it was lucky an elderly man wasn’t blinded by as shards of glass fell on his face.

Connor Greenfield, said “I heard a smash and felt a small object brush past my face, I turn to the left to see the window smashed and an old man with the look of shock on his face as a piece of glass fell on to him.”

First were forced to divert four bus services away from Shirley Road for three hours while they reported the issue to police.

The latest attack comes just days after First had to withdraw services going through the Redbridge Hill area of Millbrook, after mindless yobs repeatedly hurled stones at buses, again shattering the windows on two vehicles.

Cabinet member for communities and councillor for Shirley ward, Satvir Kaur, said: “It is very worrying. A lot of residents rely on the bus services in the area and we have been trying to get people to use more public transport in the city.”

Cllr Kaur is also chairman of the Safe City Partnership which aims to tackle antisocial behaviour in Southampton and she is keen to highlight the issue at the next meeting.

She added: “I will be working with local police in the area to ensure measures are put in place to stop this kind of thing from happening.”

“I would like to see this nipped in the bud and to make sure the individuals are made accountable.”

A First spokesman said: “We are extremely concerned about this latest instance of vandalism, the fourth on our vehicles within a week.

“Fortunately, none of our staff or customers were harmed in this latest unprovoked attack and we are working closely again with the police to identify who was responsible.

“We would urge anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the police as our main priority is the safety and protection of our drivers and customers.”

Anyone with information about the latest attack can contact Hampshire police on 101.