A bus company has appointed a schools liaison officer to combat vandalism on its Bradford services.

Arriva Yorkshire created the position following a surge in unruly behaviour and acts of vandalism by schoolchildren in the district.

Former driver Mark Spedding will use his experience and training to forge closer links with schools, community groups and the police to promote more responsible behaviour by the youngsters.

Mark, 36, who is married with two children, said: "The drivers felt strongly that the problems needed to be addressed, and that's where the schools liaison officer comes in."

Incidents by schoolchildren over the last month have included smashed upper deck windows, ripped seats being thrown through windows at motorists and regular complaints of anti-social behaviour.

Mark said his first task would be to improve relations with schools and make pupils more aware of the problems that they cause.

"We want to make the children more aware of how their actions will effect not only other people but also themselves. The majority of youngsters, like everybody else, want to travel in safety and comfort, and not surrounded by the damage caused by vandalism or bothered by anti-social behaviour," he added.

Neale Wallace, managing director of Arriva Yorkshire, said: "The appointment of a schools liaison officer not only shows our commitment to the safety and comfort of all our passengers, but also that we are prepared to talk directly to the children themselves."

It is not the first time a school liaison officer has been appointed by a bus company in Bradford. A spokesman for First Bradford, the first company in the UK to recruit a school inspector in September 1996, said: "It has proved to be a very useful role and a valuable member of the team."

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