Besieged bus drivers are calling on Public Transportation Board officials to cut back service on October 31 as a protective measure.

Their plea follows a spate of increasingly dangerous Hallowe'en antics, which have started earlier than usual.

In one incident, a glass ball was hurled through a bus. And yesterday egg-throwing vandals smashed a new bus's window, while a St. David's-bound bus was hit by eggs and oranges.

Now bus operators -- concerned about apparent indifference to their plight -- have spoken to The Royal Gazette , hoping for public support.

There have been repeated attacks on bus drivers and their vehicles over the past fortnight, said bus operator Derek Fishenden. "Missiles have been thrown at buses for the last few weeks,'' added operator Edmund Phillips. "We want the public to be aware of what their children are doing.'' "We want the public to know exactly what is going on,'' continued Mr.

Phillips. A large glass ball was thrown through the window of his bus as it passed another bus full of students near Francis Patton School in Bailey's Bay on Wednesday afternoon.

Fortunately the window was open and no-one was struck by the solid sphere measuring some two inches in diameter.

"My concern is this,'' said Mr. Fishenden. "It's lucky no one was hurt with something like this coming through the window. I am concerned about the safety of my colleagues. That marble could have hit him and he could have lost control of the bus all because of someone's stupidity. "This has been going on for years but we are not getting any support. Normally this happens around Hallowe'en but this year it's starting early which is why we are turning to the public. "We want to let them know that we are looking out for their children. We need to know that they support us.'' PTB director Herman Basden said: "We are all concerned about these missiles.

There is nothing wrong with that.'' A meeting was scheduled for Monday with the Police, said Mr. Basden, who added that he had also spoken to school principals and the Department of Education.

He also revealed that he had been given the names of trouble spots which he had passed on to the Police and the department was taking actions of its own.

Mr. Fishenden said bus operators wanted management to stop bus service early on Hallowe'en night. In previous years this responsibility fell on bus operators concerned for their safety and when they cancelled service they were not paid. However if management cancelled the service then operators scheduled to work that night would still get paid, he explained. Mr. Phillips said: "The public want the buses to keep running on Hallowe'en but they don't know what is happening out there.'' However, Mr. Basden said he had met with the operators' union representative who was not calling for an earlier bus service on Hallowe'en.

The attacks were also knocking buses out of service for repairs, pointed out Mr. Fishenden, and this expense was being picked up by the taxpayer who were also the parents of the troublemakers.

Last Friday some $2,000 damage was caused to a bus in Bailey's Bay, near Duck's Puddle Drive. Unruly CedarBridge students are thought responsible.

That same night missiles were thrown at buses on Spring Benny Road in Sandys Parish and again near the Southampton Rectory on Middle Road.

A bus operator said the day before the bus he was driving had its windscreen smashed as he was driving in Bailey's Bay. He added: "The drivers are out there at night shaking in their boots while management is home watching television.''