Services resume on Sheffield estate after undercover bus operation by police

First services 41 and 51 had been diverted away from parts of Arbourthorne after objects were thrown.

Bus managers said they needed to protect drivers and passengers but local residents said they had been left stranded in the busy run up to Christmas.

Services have now resumed following a Trojan bus operation, where plain clothed police officers posed as passengers and buses were followed by unmarked police cars.

Councillors Ben Miskell and Sophie Wilson joined First staff and South Yorkshire Police onboard the decoy bus.

Coun Miskell said: "After weeks of disruption, residents are delighted that bus services will return in Arbourthorne.

"We’ve worked with a local building site to make it more difficult to find objects to throw at buses and have requested an enhanced police presence on the bus route, now that services are re-starting."

Arbourthorne resident and retail worker Jane Hallam welcomed the return of her bus.

"Many people like myself are working hard every day and some of us have worked right through this Covid pandemic. I work for a large supermarket chain and some days I don't finish till 8.30pm.

"The disruption has meant getting off the bus and having to walk up the rest of a steep hill, after a long shift.

"It hasn’t been fair on all the people who live on the Arbourthorne Estate, just because of a few stupid kids, who ought to be ashamed of themselves."

Nigel Eggleton, managing director at First, said two Trojan bus rides had not found any antisocial behaviour so services could resume.

"The safety of our staff and customers will always be our main priority so we will continue to monitor the situation in the area. I would like to thank South Yorkshire Police and councillors in working together to help resolve the problems that occurred over the last few weeks."

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