A bus route has been discontinued for a second time after multiple “vandalism attacks”.

Arriva’s 190 service will now bypass Dering Way, Gravesend, after 4pm as the road has been plagued by vandals throwing things at buses.

The company says its vehicles have been under attack from individuals for a number of months, but would not confirm what damage had been done.

Arriva’s area managing director for Kent and Surrey, Oliver Monahan, said: “This is a commercial service, operating without subsidy and as such the route must cover the cost of operation.

“This has ceased to be the case on this part of the route, and after detailed review we have decided to no longer serve Dering Way after 4pm.

“Obviously, we would like to still be able to serve the area but where there is insufficient demand to cover the full costs of operating the route, including the cost of repairing the spate of criminal damage our fleet has endured in recent months, we need to protect the rest of the network by ensuring that we tailor our services to the demand for them.”

In October 2016, the 190 service was suspended from Dering Way for four months, after drivers were targeted by vandals.

“I wouldn’t want to risk the safety of my passengers or myself if I were under threat..." Cllr Diane Marsh

Around 200 drivers signed a petition refusing to go down the road after their vehicles were targeted by catapults and air rifles.

It meant that regular users of the service, many of them elderly, had to make the 10-minute walk to the closest stop.

A few months later, after meetings with police, ward councillors, Arriva, and Gravesham council’s community safety unit, an agreement was reached to bring the bus back to Dering Way, where things were running smoothly - until now.

County councillor for Gravesend East, Diane Marsh (Con), said: “I am sorry this is happening again and I only hope that the new Gravesham council administration gets on top of the culprits and they are brought to justice by the police.

“I wouldn’t want to risk the safety of my passengers or myself if I were under threat, so I can only hope that the crime support unit is actively engaged with the investigation and that services are resumed quickly as they are much needed and valued by the people who use them.”

In November 2017, a bus window was left smashed after vandals launched a rock through it, in nearby Valley Drive, Gravesend.

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