A NEWPORT boxing club coach last night vowed to round up youngsters who threw stones at his minibus and deliver them to the police himself.

Roger Williams, leading coach at St Joseph's Amateur Boxing Club, in Pill, and the club's Press officer, Roy Chambers, said they knew who the youths were.

But the club was warned not to take the law into its own hands.

Vandals stoned the minibus taking young boxers home from the club on Wednesday night on Liswerry Road. Windows were smashed and the attackers ran away.

Mr Chambers said: "We are going to round up these boys and present them to the police ourselves.

"This could happen to taxis or any minibus and there could be a serious accident or even a death."

Inspector Mike Cotterell, of Gwent Police, said: "If someone is actually committing an arrestable offence, such as criminal damage, a member of the public can detain them until the police arrive."

But he warned it was not enough to suspect someone of committing an offence: "Where there is a gang of youths at the side of the road and a stone is thrown, the question is, who threw it?

"I would advise people not to get involved but to record the person they saw with as much detail as possible and to remain on the scene, if possible, and point the person out to the police."

Inspector Julia Walsh, at Pill police station, warned she was considering curfews after gangs attacked police and buses with stones on Bonfire Night.

Bus company Newport Transport had resumed evening services that were cancelled following gang attacks on its vehicles.

But two of its drivers were assaulted on Thursday night.

Managing director Trevor Roberts, who has called for curfew orders for youngsters caught attacking buses, said both were back at work, but more nervous about their job. He added: "It has made life a bit tense."

Pill councillor Laura Buchanan-Smith said: "I don't agree with vigilante action, but I understand that people are at the end of their tether."

Councillor Buchanan-Smith supported calls for a curfew, adding: "I've canvassed for curfews for years and I would be first to help police it because something has got to be done.

"It's not my 'crackpot idea', it's government legislation." * Pictured: From left, coach Roger Williams, press officer Roy Chambers and coach Tony Borge