A pensioner was shocked and angered by the behaviour of school pupils on board a bus he was travelling on.
Brian Ashley, a semi-retired schoolteacher, said he was appalled by what he saw and heard while travelling on a Number 86 Arriva bus bound for Garston between 3pm and 4pm earlier this month.
The 66-year-old, from Woolton , told the ECHO: "I am a member of the real world and have two sons of my own so I am neither a shrinking violet nor a prude.
"At Mather Avenue, we were invaded by a horde of the most ill-mannered, loutish bunch of boys and girls I have experienced for quite a while.
"Their language was profane, racist, homophobic and sexist. There wasn't a single taboo that was ignored. These expletives were yelled and shrieked non-stop.
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"A passenger had the effrontery to comment to one of them and his answer was 'It's a free world and I can say what I like.'"
Brian added: "Some girls were swinging on the post in a dangerous manner and others were banging on the windows. As they mercifully departed, we were left with a carpet of discarded wrappers and bottles.
"I spoke to the driver who regularly drove the 86 and he wearily informed that this was a better day, which flabbergasted me."
But the nightmare journey didn't stop there. Brian then changed onto a Number 82 for Speke , and had to endure more of the same from homeward-bound pupils.
He said: "The same expletives filled the air but there was an added attraction as I watched some of them trying to push one another down the stairs.
"I believe I can recognise and accept juvenile boisterousness but too often this has become anti-social behaviour. Are our schools aware of how dreadful this situation has become? If so, are they capable of doing something about it?
"Why should the general public have to endure these bus journeys from hell? Do we have to ignore it or simply put up with it because it happens on public transport?"
An Arriva North West spokesperson said "We can confirm that after having checked our internal complaints system, we haven’t received any reports from drivers or passengers relating to unruly passengers on the 86 service on the date in question.
"However, when we do receive reports relating to disturbance from schoolchildren we work with the relevant schools and police by analysing CCTV footage and highlighting the offenders to the school and police. When our drivers report any disturbance on routes that serve schools, we act quickly to get our local PCSO and school liaison officer to visit the schools and speak to the children directly about appropriate behaviour on public transport."
Have you experienced a bus ride from hell recently? What are the worst routes in the city for this kind of unacceptable behaviour? To share your experience, email alan.weston@reachplc.com
