Lucky escape
Date published: 15 September 2009
Yobs attack bus with airgun
A GROUP of young dancers narrowly escaped injury after louts shot out their bus window with an air rifle as it travelled down a busy road.
Around 45 youngsters from Chadderton’s Buckley Belles Dance Troupe were on the double-deck bus when it was attacked in Broadway, Chadderton.
The pellet shattered a top deck window, showering a seat with glass, which narrowly missing seventeen-year-old Vicky Kendrick, who was sitting near by and escaped injury.
Troupe leaders have now warned residents to be alert to any repeat that could result in tragedy on a road heavily used by many buses and heavy lorries, as well as cars.
Shocked Margaret Buckley, who has run the troupe for more than 40 years, said: “It was frightening and could have been very dangerous. The window is shot through. It could have injured a girl’s face or worse.
“If they had shot the driver anything could have happened. Thankfully we were all okay. It would have been terrible if anything had struck one of the children.”
The bus was dropping off dancers as they travelled back from a competition in Middleton, when the shot rang out as they passed near the Ancora restaurant at 7.20pm on Sunday.
Mrs Buckley added: “Vicky was sitting in the seat directly in front and shouted out. She was scared and said the window was falling through.”
The bus stopped and Mrs Buckley and the father of one of the girls ran down Broadway to where it happened. Mrs Buckley found an alleyway between a couple of houses from where it’s believed the shot was fired, but any culprits had fled.
She said the girls soon recovered their composure, adding: “Children take things in their stride but I did worry about them. The police have said they will keep a look out. Youngsters should know that it’s not funny and is very dangerous.”
The troupe is now facing a repair bill to get the window replaced in time to ferry dancers and equipment to their own competition at Failsworth School on Sunday.
The troupe raised around £2,000 to buy the 76-seater bus. But two years ago they were left distraught after it was vandalised by yobs and property was stolen.
A police spokesman said it was suspected an air rifle was used to shatter the coach window.
