Police will be out in force tonight to nab egg-throwing pranksters tempted to spread Hallowe'en havoc.

Patrol cars will be combing the Island after a spate of egg throwing in the West End.

Acting Supt. Sinclair White said: "They are throwing them at persons, buses, trucks, anything.

"It's been happening along South Shore Road, Warwick, Southampton and Sandys but unfortunately we haven't been able to catch the individuals responsible.

"If these individuals are caught we will deal with them.

"Parents won't enjoy getting a call asking them to come to the Police station because their child has been arrested for throwing eggs and causing malicious damage.'' Police say the last three years' festivities had been relatively trouble-free.

And Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said last night that this might be the last year that bus services are shut down early on Hallowe'en to avoid trouble.

He said officials were trying to push tonight's planned 7 p.m. shut down to a later time.

He told The Royal Gazettte : "We are trying to see if we can work it to go longer. We have the cooperation of the Police and students.

"There's been a very strong student effort from CedarBridge and Berkeley.

"Over the last few years the problem has severely curtailed and we've had a pretty good record.

"I think Bermudians prefer to have bus services rather than tolerate violence. We have been out long enough. The point has been made.'' Supt. White said Police would be sending roving patrols around the east, west and central areas.

He said: "For those who decide that they want to be too mischievous whereby criminal and malicious acts are done against the public or premises we will have patrol cars out there to make the necessary arrests and deal with those who have been responsible for crime.

"On all these areas we intend to take the high ground very early so the general motoring public will know we are out there. It's zero tolerance.'' He said last year presented more potential dangers as Hallowe'en fell on a weekend whereas this year it was on a school day which meant most parties had already taken place.

But he said the egg-throwing wasn't as bad as last year.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Gertrude Barker added: "Last year we hardly had any.'' But she warned: "When small containers of petrol are purchased by very young people there is some indication that they could be petrol bombs.''