YOBS staged a sickening attack on morris dancers leaving a competition in Fleetwood.
They subjected families to a fusillade of stone and bricks and exposed themselves to children as young as three.
"It was absolutely disgusting," coach driver John Armistead today told The Gazette.
"We've had trouble in places like Liverpool a
nd Manchester, but never in Fleetwood before."
Youngsters and their parents were leaving The Marine Hall after one of the regular events run by the English Town and Country Dancing
Organisation which attracted competitors from all over the North West.
Mr Armistead said trouble flared in the afternoon when youths not connected to the competition turned up drunk. They were asked to leave the Marine Hall.
The driver added: "They were sitting on a bank near the car park.
"When mothers were bringing some of the small children back, aged about three to seven, they started exposing themselves at the kids.
"The mothers shouted back at them to clear off, but they started throwing stones and bricks at the buses and the mothers.
"One went through the downstairs window of my bus and hit one of the mothers. She had a great big bruise on her hip.
"If it had hit her higher up it could have taken her head off.
"People were cowering between the buses and trying to hide. Some of the mothers gave chase, but as soon as they did the lads ran off.
"All the children were crying and the little ones were petrified. One of the other coaches lost a window."
Among the troupes attacked in the shameful scenes, which happened on Sunday May 11 at 7pm, were the Platt Bridge Morris Dancers from Wigan.
Treasurer Joan Goldson said: "It was very frightening because we have a lot of youngsters on the buses and it could have been a lot worse."
Now police are appealing for witnesses to the incident which lasted for 15 minutes.
PC Jason Wainwright said: "This was a terrible and cowardly attack and we are appealing for the co-operation of anyone who may have seen the incident and knows anything of those who took part in it."
PC Wainwright said: "Six youths were involved, aged 16 to 18.
"They threw bricks and the coach and one of the windows was put in.
"One of the youths was described as six feet tall and with dark hair and it is believed he is the one who exposed himself."
Two of the louts were wearing red football shirts, one was wearing a white baseball cap and two may have had bicycles.
Anyone who has information is asked to call Fleetwood Police on (01253) 876611.
The full article contains 448 words and appears in n/a newspaper.