Buses will run on Hallowe'en night with Reserve Police officers onboard for the first time in ten years thanks to a joint effort between unions, Police, school principals and the Government.

The move means buses will run after 6 p.m. - whereas in previous years bus drivers have pulled the service because of fears over youngsters bombarding their vehicles with missiles.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said: "The Ministry of Transport, the Public Transportation Board, the Bus Operators and Allied Workers division of the Bermuda Industrial Union and several school principals had extensive talks about public transportation on Hallowe'en. There will now be a full bus service until midnight.

"The service will involve extensive Police support, for the bus service. There will be a high visibility of Police which will include uniform, non uniform and Reserve officers."

PTB director Dan Simmons said: "The bus operators had decided to pull their service because of people throwing eggs, missiles and bricks shattering bus windows.

"We have been in contact with schools and we are running programmes within the schools to educate young people."

Dr. Brown urged parents to look to see if their children have eggs stashed and old fruit.

"The service is being run for the travelling public, not for the person who wants to do something strange," said Dr. Brown.

Police Superintendent Sinclair White said: "The buses will run with Bermuda Reserve Police onboard and in the event of an incident, the response will be quite quick."

BOAW chief shop steward Glen Simmons said: "The Police will respond to an incident in one to three minutes."