A bus operator is threatening to scrap services after a spate of attacks by gangs of children as young as eight.

Eastbourne Buses managing director Steve Barnett said he will stop his drivers going to the town's Shinewater Estate if there is even one repeat of recent attacks.

Gangs of children have been throwing everything from eggs to wine bottles at buses in Milfoil Drive and Larkspur Drive.

A number of the company's fleet have been damaged and, in the most serious case, a passenger was showered with glass from a broken window.

Mr Barnett said attacks had become a regular occurrence since July and all efforts to deter the culprits had failed.

He said: "This has been happening on this estate for months now. We have tried a number of things to stop it including following buses in unmarked vans and having plain-clothed police on services but still it goes on.

"We have a duty to provide people in that area with a bus service but we also have a duty to protect our drivers.

"If this is allowed to continue, we will end up with a driver being blinded or a passenger getting seriously injured."

The latest attack took place on Halloween night when a gang of youths ambushed a bus as it passed a local shop.

The company is working with police to introduce a number of covert surveillance schemes in the hope of stamping out potential trouble and protecting drivers.

Anyone with information on the attacks is asked to contact Eastbourne Police on 0845 60 70 999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.