By Libby Francis Another bus driver had to summon Police late Wednesday night as a bunch of unruly youths continuously shouted obscenities and refused to get off the bus.

And the director of the Public Transportation Board, Mr. Herman Basden, said if this does not stop the board will have to find ways to protect their drivers.

"We don't want to come to the point where we have to withdraw services late at night, because innocent people will suffer.'' Police reported that at 11.30 p.m. a bus driver travelling along Middle Road in Southampton called his base to say he was having problems with several passengers on the bus.

"He said that about 15 male and female passengers sitting at the rear of the bus were shouting and swearing at other passengers, and they were being abusive,'' a Police spokesperson said.

He added: "The driver stopped the bus near Whale Bay and asked the offenders to leave but they refused. They started being abusive to the driver and when the Police arrived they continued swearing and being abusive to the officers.'' However, some of the youths departed the bus at the request of the Police but two others, a 17-year-old Southampton man and a 25-year-old Sandys man refused again. They were subsequently arrested. The Police spokesperson also said that the Southampton man is being investigated for having possession of drugs and inquiries are continuing into the incident.

He added: "The youths involved are in contravention of Bus Regulations and Public Order offences.'' Mr. Basden also said this type of problem has been going on for quite some time and "the unfortunate thing is that there is a general breakdown of respect for bus drivers, ambulance drivers, and any type of authority or organisations.

"I merely want to say that with the way things are going right now we have to be quite firm with these people that carry out these things with bus drivers, simply because it is going to become more of a problem. We certainly cannot let these hooligans have there own way. This happens far to frequently and we don't want it to get any worse.'' Mr. Basden added that the young people must respect the bus drivers because "they are someone's mother, father, and child, and they are part of a family.

They also have a very responsible job.

"When they are driving that bus they need their full concentration on the road so they can take the passengers to their final destination.'' Any of the other passengers on that bus are asked to contact P.c. David Gillies at the Somerset Police Station.