A "VICIOUS and calculated" campaign of vandalism attacks is sabotaging a bus service for special needs pupils.

Phoenix Community Transport, in Penmaen, had the side windows of four minibuses smashed and 25 Valleys pupils had to stay at home.

It was the latest in a long line of attacks in the last year.

The worst was in October when 53 tyres on 13 minibuses were slashed. The vehicles were moved to a secure compound after that attack, but it has not stopped the damage.

The manager of Phoenix Community Transport, Brian Hancock, says he is at his "wits' end" after being targeted by yobs about a dozen times in as many months.

"The situation is getting beyond," said Mr Hancock. "I knew the minibuses were OK on the Sunday evening because someone came over to check on them, so it must have happened sometime overnight.

"The trustees are getting very frustrated and we simply can't go on like this.

"We had four vehicles off the road for a whole day because of this, and that meant 25 kids didn't go to school or their day centre on Monday, just because some cretin is doing damage to other people's property. "Two of the minibuses were still off the road yesterday, but by hook or by crook we managed to get everybody to their school or day centre. I'm absolutely despondent.

"Whoever is doing this is doing it in such a way as to cause us the greatest amount of inconvenience and expense. It doesn't appear to be random, but vicious and calculated.

"The repair costs add up because the windows have to be replaced. We surely have to think about getting CCTV now."

Penmaen councillor John Evans said: "Someone knows who is doing this and it is just very sad.

"Disabled children who go to Trinity Fields or other day centres depend upon this transport so the vandalism is especially sad. What will the people responsible resort to next?"

Anyone with information about the vandalism should contact PC Wayne Roberts, crime and disorder reduction officer at Blackwood police