A YOUTH who threw a stone at the front windscreen of a double-decker bus carrying 70 schoolchildren could have caused "another Cowbridge disaster", a bus boss claimed yesterday.

Children from Newbridge Comprehensive School screamed in horror when the rock hurled by a 14-year-old youth smashed through the glass, Blackwood youth court was told.

The transport manager of Howells Coaches in Deri, near Bargoed, Richard Dolloway, told the Argus after the court case: "It was only the awareness and professionalism of the bus driver David Harris that prevented another nasty incident such as the Cowbridge disaster."

His comments came the same day a campaign calling for a change in the laws that govern school buses was launched in memory of 12-year-old Stuart Cunni-ngham-Jones - the boy who died in the bus accident near Cowbridge in December.

Yesterday the 14-year-old Abercarn youth, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty at youth court to a charge of criminal damage in being reckless to property and as to whether life was endangered.

Prosecutor Steve Lane told the court the youth had thrown the rock at the bus as it was driving along Commercial Road, Aber-carn, on March 24.

He said: "Mr Harris heard a bang and saw that the front near-side window of the bus was smashed.

"The children on the bus were shouting and screaming and Mr Harris was shocked by what was going on.

"The incident could have been a lot worse than it was."

Mr Lane said that when the youth was interviewed by police: "He could give no reason why he did it."

Leanne Evans, mitigating for the boy, said the incident was "out of character" and "he is genuinely remorseful and appreciates the consequences caused as a result could have been far, far worse".

Before he was sentenced the teenager addressed the court and said: "I'm really sorry for what I've done. I was stupid."

Chairman of the magistrates Diane Davies sentenced the boy to a 12-month referral order and ordered he pay £350 compensation to the bus company and £55 costs.