Kentish Express Ashford & District
Road bollard dragged on to bridge
A passer-by stepped in and prevented a group of youths from dropping a heavy road bollard onto the M20 from a bridge, it has been reported.
The incident is said to have taken place on the Eureka Skyway bridge near junction 9 on Saturday night.
It is believed that the group dragged the bollard, which had a concrete base, onto the pedestrian bridge with the aim of hauling it onto the motorway below, but fled when challenged.
A Kent County Council spokesman said: “We are very concerned to hear of this incident and we will be investigating.”
A police spokesperson said: “We received a report of a signpost and concrete block being moved from Rutherford Road in Ashford to a bridge at around 10.22pm on Saturday, December 3.
“Officers liaised with Ashford Borough Council over the recovery of the signpost. Initial inquiries have suggested that no offences took place.” The damaged windows of the bus, shattered by yobs hurling bricks Passengers have described their terror after yobs hidden in the darkness pelted the windows of their bus with rocks.
The attack happened in Cuckoo Lane between Stanhope and South Ashford on Friday at 6.30pm.
One passenger commented on Facebook: “I was on the bus with my six-year-old, the driver and another passenger. None of us were hurt, but it was pretty scary.
“The kids were standing in the shadows of the woods along that road and it was dark out, so no descriptions could be given to the police.
“The other lady was freaked out and chose to get off the bus and walk home. I got off and waited for the next bus to come along. Just glad no one was hurt, it could have been a lot worse.”
The other passenger posted: “I don’t think I’ve ever had anything like this happen before, it was literally like something out of a film.
“It sickens me even more that there was a child on the bus, we were lucky that we weren’t on that side of the window.”
Stagecoach spokesman Matthew Maytum confirmed no one was hurt in the incident and said the company was working with police.
The incident follows a spate of vandalism in the area, after a play park and primary school were targeted the previous Monday night.
John Wesley Primary School head teacher Gail Spragg said she believed windows were smashed by youths with catapults or slingshots.
Meanwhile, Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council clerk Aniko Szocs reported that a new picnic table and play equipment at the park in Cuckoo Lane was damaged on the same night.
Police spokesman Natalie Hardy did not comment on whether the incidents are being linked, but confirmed officers are investigating.
Officers urge anyone with any information to contact the police on 101 and quote reference number ZY/043465/16.