EACH day a group of motorists take to Bolton's roads aware that they could face anything from being sworn at to being assaulted.

Bus drivers routinely put their safety at risk as they transport passengers around Greater Manchester.

The dangers of the job were highlighted at Bolton Crown Court on Friday when a judge imposed an 18-month detention and training order on a 17-year-old drunk who stuck a gun to the head of a driver and attempted to rob him.

Driver David Weilding-Evans grabbed the gun while terrified passengers cowered in their seats as the bus reached Thicketford Road in Tonge Moor.

But concerned union bosses say attacks on bus and tram drivers and other transport workers are on the increase and they are lobbying MPs and the Government in a bid to highlight the issue.

"Drivers are regularly spat upon, sworn at, have bricks thrown at them and knives pulled on them. There are a variety of different ways they are attacked," said TGWU senior regional organiser Fred Greer.

"Assaults on bus drivers and staff are on the increase. But I wouldn't say the North-west is any different to other areas around the country with large cities and towns."

Some areas have become so bad that bus companies have been forced to withdraw services in order to protect passengers, staff and the vehicles from attack.

Only last year First Bus diverted its number 36 service away from the Kenyon Way estate in Little Hulton in the evenings after gangs of youths repeatedly threw bricks at the passing bus.

The situation became so bad that driver Gary Hamer quit his job.

Mr Hamer was a former soldier and described a 19-month tour of duty in Belfast as "paradise" compared with a drive along Kenyon Way.

"I wasn't paid enough to take that kind of abuse," he said.

Other incidents in recent times in Bolton include driver Roy Walker who was injured when he tried to stop three yobs pulling apart the inside of his bus and terrorising passengers.

A 14-year-old boy was also injured by flying glass when a sniper fired at a bus in Breightmet with an airgun and a woman passenger cradling a baby was was missed by inches when a "boulder" was hurled through a window in Little Hulton.

Last year bus services through the Shakerley estate in Tyldesley were also suspended during evenings due to stone throwing yobs.

Teenagers from Withins School were condemned by bus company bosses last summer after surrounding a bus in Newby Road, Breightmet, and verbally abusing the driver and intimidating passengers.

Last month youths armed with crossbows were targeting buses in Willows Lane and St Helens Road, Bolton, packed with passengers. On the same day rocks were thrown at two more buses, shattering windows.

Since the beginning of the year in Bolton there have been more than 35 similar attacks on buses.

Bus companies, the police and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport have all been working towards increasing safety for drivers, who are in a particularly vulnerable position, working alone at all hours of the day and night

"You can't blame the public at times for not going to the aid of drivers because they would be putting themselves at risk too," said Mr Greer.

Larger bus companies are now installing safety screens as a barriers between drivers and passengers.

"Some drivers don't like being cooped up but what is worse, that or being attacked?" said Mr Greer.

He added that he would like to see the Government insisting that safety screens are fitted as standard and bus companies give them a high priority.

Moves are also being made to instal CCTV cameras on buses.

In November Stagecoach Manchester, which operates in Bolton, announced it was installing covert security cameras, costing a total of £500,000 on its buses.

"Vandalism and violence is a growing problem on buses and, as a reputable company, it is our responsibility to address the issue," said Stagecoach Manchester operations director Elisabeth Tasker.

First Bus is also installing cameras and pressing for a Safer Travel Partnership scheme, such as the one operating in Wigan, bringing together police, the council and other agencies to tackle transport crime.

"It is working together that is important," said First Bus managing director Simon Bennett

Bad behaviour on buses costs operating companies thousands of pounds each year, with vehicles being vandalised, graffiti scrawled on interiors, windows smashed and even seats set on fire.

And while some of the problems and abuse come from adults, often fuelled by drink or a reluctance to pay their fares, a large number of incidents are caused by teenagers and even younger children.

Mr Greer says the daily trauma of having to deal with abusive situations can take a toll on a drivers' health and even force them to leave the job altogether.

"It is common for people to get intimidated and want to leave the job. People do suffer stress," he said.