A bus company has reconsidered after threatening to cancel services following a series of knife-point robberies on drivers.

Inglis Lyon, managing director of Stagecoach Oxford, said there had been no further attacks since the spate of incidents earlier this month.

The crime spree prompted Stagecoach managers to threaten to withdraw certain services. But they have now reassured passengers this will not happen. Mr Lyon said: "There are no plans to withdraw services. What we need to do is draw up a contingency plan in case this sort of thing happens again."

In the first incident on October 16, a No. 1 Blackbird Leys bus had to be evacuated on Cowley Road when someone set off a gas canister.

Fifteen minutes later, in Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, the driver of another No 1 bus was robbed by a man holding a 10in knife.

Shortly afterwards, there were other similar attacks in Banbury Road, north Oxford, and Oxford Road, Cowley. Stagecoaches bosses met police last week to discuss ways to prevent buses from being targeted.

Possible measures which are being considered include security screens for drivers and closed-circuit TV cameras.

*A 16-year-old youth appeared before city magistrates on Wednesday charged with robbery.

The case was adjourned until November 10 and the youth, who has not been named for legal reasons, was released on bail. Police are continuing their inquiries into the bus robberies.

Story date: Friday 29 October

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