YOBS hurled a missile at a bus, smashing its window, in the latest of a string of attacks on vehicles on a Southampton estate.

Youths threw a brick or large stone through the window of a First Bus travelling through Millbrook, yesterday.

It comes just days after the company warned it is threatening to pull out of the Millbrook estate after five of its vehicles were targeted by youngsters on bikes wearing hoodies pulled tight to hide their faces.

Now police have made a fresh appeal for anyone who witnessed the latest attack, or any of the other incidents to contact them immediately.

And it comes as they reveal that taxis have also been targeted in the attacks.

The yobs hurled the rock when the vehicle was travelling on Windermere Avenue between 8-9pm yesterday.

At around 8.20pm on the same evening eight or nine youths threw eggs at a motorists sitting in his car in Cumbrian Way.

As previously reported First warned that the popular CR2 service, which runs from the city centre to Redbridge Hill, via Shirley and Millbrook, will be withdrawn from the estate if the vandals strike again.

It follows a number of buses and taxis have been targeted in the Kendal Avenue and Wimpson Lane and Windermere Avenue areas since Monday, September 12.

The majority of incidents have taken place after dark, between 7pm and midnight. Vehicles have suffered damage including smashed windows.

Police say all of the incidents are linked.

Police are hunting a group are described as aged between 18 and 24, wearing hooded tops and riding push bikes.

Inspector Kerry Loveless said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who has witnessed gangs of youths on the Millbrook estate throwing objects such as eggs, bricks, stones, or glass bottles at cars and taxis, or vehicles belonging to First Buses.

“In addition, we would also like to speak to anyone who might have seen large groups of people acting suspiciously in this area after dark.

“These incidents have been on-going for two weeks and tend to take place once the sun has gone down.

“We encourage bus and taxi drivers to give us a call on 101 if they grow concerned by large groups of people gathered by the roadside in these areas.”

Officers held a partnership meeting on Friday, September 23, with bus firms and local councillors to discuss how to tackle the issue.

The estate is also served by Bluestar which says it might avoid the area too if its vehicles come under attack.

Two years ago Bluestar was forced to pull out of another Southampton route after four of its vehicles were damaged in an hour.

Three Bluestar buses suffered smashed windows as they travelled along Hinkler Road,Thornhill, and a Number 3 service run by First Hampshire was also hit.

The attacks resulted in drivers on the Number 18 Bluestar service from Millbrook to Thornhill being told to avoid Hinkler Road.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting 44160357281, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.