A woman showered in glass after yobs smashed a bus window has been left too "petrified" to use public transport.

Arlene Rae, a manager at Oxfam in Canterbury, had been travelling home from work when the shatter-proof pane broke into thousands of pieces, leaving her with glass embedded in her face.

Police are now investigating the incident, in which a group of young people are thought to have intentionally thrown an object at the window.

Ms Rae, 54, says the ordeal has left her feeling extremely anxious.

"I was sitting on the side by the window," she explained.

"It was dark outside so you couldn't really see through it. It just sounded like a huge explosion, right next to me.

"I instinctively put my left hand up. Then I sat very still in total shock.

"Everybody was in shock - some people rushed off the bus. There were about four or five of us.

"I started feeling bits of glass in my face.

"I am so lucky the glass, which continued crackling ominously, didn't shatter completely. It could have been a lot worse.

"The following day I found quite a long scratch on my left leg, where a bit of of the glass had got into my boot. I hadn't noticed because I was in such shock."

Ms Rae, whose arm was already in a sling as she awaits surgery, says she also had grit in her eye for several days.

'I'm stressed as anything just thinking about catching a bus' - Arlene Rae

"I had a day off the next day and had lots of plans, but the shock kept me in bed all day," she added.

Ms Rae is now back at work, but says she has resorted to taking taxis to her Hales Place home as she is too frightened to take the bus in the dark.

On Monday (October 28), she found herself staying at work for several hours longer than needed, saying: "I'm stressed as anything just thinking about catching a bus".

"I'd like to see the perpetrators caught and charged."

Bus firm Stagecoach reported the incident to the police.

Company spokesman Matthew Maytum said: "It will have been quite shocking for the passenger seated next to the window at the time, and we're keen to get in contact with her to talk about what happened."

Police are investigating the damage, which happened in Downs Road, Hales Place, at about 9pm on October 22.

Anyone with information who may be able to assist officers with their enquiries is asked to call police on 01843 222289 quoting 22-1612.

Alternatively, you can call the independent charity, Crimestoppers in Kent, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury