A late-night bus service in York is to be withdrawn after a series of attacks on drivers.

One driver was left looking "as if he'd been ten rounds with Prince Naseem" after two youths assaulted him and demanded money.

And earlier this week, four youths threatened the driver of the same First York number seven bus in Acomb before running off empty-handed.

"We have had to take this action to ensure the safety of our passengers and drivers," said First York general manager Brian Asquith.

"We met with our drivers yesterday, and they are absolutely appalled. We agreed that the only course of action was to not go into that area at night any longer."

He said a driver was seriously injured in February when a brick was thrown through the window of a bus in the same part of Acomb.

His injuries were so severe that he was off work for eight weeks.

"Driving buses in York is not the easiest job in the world at the best of times, but to have to deal with this sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable," said Mr Asquith.

"We can't expect our drivers to put up with this sort of abuse."

The number seven service, which runs between Tang Hall and Chapelfields, will now terminate at Ridgeway after 8pm, and will no longer go down Bramham Avenue where the attacks took place.

Last Thursday, two youths, thought to be aged between 16 and 18 years, stopped the bus on Bramham Avenue.

Mr Asquith said they got on and refused to pay the fare.

But when the driver told them to pay or get off the bus they became abusive and one punched him in the face, while the other grabbed the steering wheel.

Then on Tuesday of this week, four youths boarded the same service at the same bus stop.

"Again they demanded money, and this time referred to the previous incident, so we feel these are the same people," he said.

A spokesman for York police confirmed they were looking into the incidents.

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