THE owner of a bus firm under attack from missile-throwing yobs has accused Worcester police of failing him.

In one attack, a brick was hurled through a side window, inches behind the driver's head as a Boomerang bus drove through Dines Green.

Both the driver and half-dozen passengers on board escaped injury.

But owner Nick Warner was seething after police were unable to respond to the driver's call for help immediately.

A police spokeswoman told the Evening News that demands on officers meant they had to respond where crime was "ongoing and we can add immediate value".

"They just said 'sorry, we haven't got the resources to come out to you'," Mr Warner fumed.

"A week before, one of our drivers was having problems getting round parked cars there. My driver refused to back up because it's against the law with passengers on board. Three police cars turned up. When it is something trivial, they turn out for it. When we ask for assistance, nothing."

Police confirmed officers did not attend the vandalism incident last month at the junction of Tudor Way and Drake Avenue, but are investigating.

Windows on two more buses were broken while they passed through Dines Green and Warndon on Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May 26. On Tuesday, a driver was pelted with water balloons as he drove in Dines Green.

"Dines Green is rapidly losing its bus service. Each time something happens we have to withdraw the service," said Mr Warner.

Boomerang is also suffering from the nationwide drivers' shortages. It needs around 20 drivers to operate its fleet and has only 12. Many are unwilling to work evening shifts.

A spokeswoman for Worcester Police said: "Demand on police resources is such that we have to prioritise our response to situations where crime is ongoing and we can add immediate value.

"Opportunist crime is not only difficult to prevent but difficult to detect."

Anyone with information should call police on 01905 72388 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.