Thieves drive off school double-decker

by Adrian RoylesCHEEKY thieves made off with a double- decker bus only hours before it was due to take a group of schoolchildren home.The bus was taken from The Holmes industrial estate, off Millgate, Selby, between 10am and 3pm yesterday.John Stockdale, driver and boss of Steve Stockdale Coaches, discovered an empty parking space when he went to collect the vehicle.His sister Julie O'Neill, who is company secretary, said: "He couldn't believe his eyes when he arrived to collect the coach.""It's the first time we've had a bus stolen and I suppose workers at the estate wouldn't have looked twice at seeing a bus rolling out."Julie said: "We've got no idea why someone would want to steal a double decker. It isn't an ideal getaway vehicle for a bank job."The 72-seater navy blue 1983 Leyland double decker has two distinctive yellow stripes down each side and the name Steve Stockdale Coaches in bright yellow lettering on the rear."At least someone should spot it, unless it's been hidden under a bridge or a large tarpaulin," Julie joked.She said the double decker was regularly used to ferry children on a route between Rawcliffe Bridge and Snaith Secondary School."We certainly didn't cancel the school run - there was no way we would leave schoolchildren stranded."We had a 53-seater single decker coach available and we had to hire in another coach to make up the numbers and make sure the children got home."Julie said although they had to arrange another coach and an extra driver, the school run was probably delayed by only about 10 minutes.Company founder Steve Stockdale, who is now semi-retired, said as each hour passed it seemed more likely that the bus had been stolen to order, rather than taken by a 'joyrider'.A police spokesman confirmed that the bus had not been seen since it was reported stolen, and said: "How do you lose a double decker bus? It must stick out like a sore thumb."Anyone who spots the bus should telephone Selby police station on 01757 702596.