Appeal for Help!

Travel West Midlands is keen to identify this person who attempted to set fire to a bus on the 529 route operating between Wolverhampton and Walsall on Saturday evening on the 29th May 04.Phil Bateman Corporate Affairs Director said "This man was not only irresponsible, he put the life of our driver, passengers and other road users at risk when he decided to set fire to the bus. The person responsible left the bus at Portobello allowing the bus to go forward with the fire taking hold during the journey to The Dale, Willenhall.The value of our CCTV systems is now becoming evident as we appeal to the public to help the police catch this man.Anyone who has any information about this person should contact either their local police station or crime stoppers on 0800 555 111 where they will be able to leave information without being identified.It is incidents like this that causes real concern to bus operators, irresponsible loutish behaviour that puts people and property at risk. This type of activity really needs to be challenged by society. Quick work by our driver not only quelled the fire but stopped it from spreading. This is a new bus that costs more than £140,000 and we are distraught that such an attack can even be contemplated never mind carried out."

Published 3rd June 2004