A SENIOR police officer says attacks by gangs on cars and buses have reached "epidemic proportions" in Newport.

The Argus revealed on Monday that bus services to Bettws may be scrapped after repeated incidents where gangs of children threw stones and eggs.

Now Maindee police are working overtime after 18 cars in their area were attacked on Tuesday evening.

Inspector Glyn Fernquest says the attacks could lead to a death or serious injury. Bus company Newport Trans-port is visiting primary schools with police to warn children that they are in real danger of causing a tragedy.

Inspector Fernquest said: "The problem has got a lot, lot worse. It's reaching epidemic proportions.

"The gangs have gone from throwing stones to fireworks, and they've spread from Cromwell Road to Chepstow Road and Corporation Road.

"It's gone from being a nuisance to being very serious trouble and I've got staff working overtime to try and stamp this out.

"What these kids consider to be fun could end up with them being charged with manslaughter.

"We will arrest anyone who is caught doing this - no ifs, ands or buts." Louise Howells, receptionist for Dragon Taxis, said: "One of our drivers had his window smashed on Cromwell Road last week.

"We can't refuse work but we are being careful where we're sending our cars." A Maindee taxi operator, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "Some companies are refusing to pick people up from Cromwell Road and I don't blame them because there's going to be an accident soon."

Newport Transport's personnel manager Colin Thomas and bus driver Chris Boswell joined PC Juliet Murphy at Millbrook School in Bettws yesterday to warn children about the danger of throwing stones.