POLICE apologised to the owner of a Newport coach company for failing to turn up when he called them after youths stoned his bus.

Coach driver Gareth Tanner, 27, had a window shattered when a teenager from a group of around eight youths hurled a stone at the passing vehicle on Hendre Farm Drive, Ringland, on Friday.

No passengers were aboard and Mr Tanner was uninjured.

Mr Tanner, who owns Tanner's Coaches, in Newport, immediately stopped the coach and contacted police.

He confronted the youths and followed them to ensure police would be able to catch the offender when they arrived.

But the police never did arrive and Mr Tanner lost sight of the group, who are believed to be aged 13 to 14.

Police only contacted Mr Tanner on Saturday morning - more than 18 hours after they received the call.

Now police have issued an unreserved apology to Mr Tanner and admitted their response "was not of the expected standard".

Inspector Rod Grindlay, of Alway police station, said: "I am presently carrying out inquiries into why there was a delay in despatching officers to the scene.

"The local ward officer has now commenced a criminal investigation and is liaising with the complainant.

"The service we have provided to Mr Tanner has not been of the standard either he or I expect, and I apologise for that."

During Mr Tanner's pursuit of the youngsters he was confronted by an older friend of the group who threatened to butt him if he did not leave them alone.

Mr Tanner said: "I am very angry with the police. If they had been on the ball they would have caught who did this.

"It's fine apologising, but they need to make sure this doesn't happen again.

"I could have been assaulted and left unconscious on the pavement and they wouldn't have even turned up."

Mr Tanner says it will cost him around £300 to repair the broken window. He described the behaviour of the youths involved as "mindless".

* Anyone with any information avbout the incident is asked to contact police on 01633 838111.