A 15-year-old schoolboy was knifed in the face by a man on a bus on the Isle of Sheppey.

The boy, who has not been named, was on his way home from the Oasis Academy yesterday afternoon when the alleged attack took place.

It happened on the top deck of an Arriva bus in full view of other horrified pupils, some as young as 11.

Witnesses said another pupil grabbed the attacker round the throat and pulled him off.

The boy then kicked himself free, and was today said to be "fine" after hospital treatment.

Meanwhile, the attacker is said to have escaped down the stairs after being challenged by the driver while the bus was stopped in Queens Road, Minster. He then ran off towards Eastchurch.

He was described as aged 38 to 40, unshaven and carrying a B&M bag. Writers on Facebook have appealed for any taxi drivers who might have given him a lift.

Police confirmed today they were making inquiries after receiving several 999 calls of the bus assault.

The boy was taken to Sheppey Community Hospital and then Medway Maritime Hospital. His mother said today he was “fine”. She has warned other parents that school buses also carry members of the public.

She said: “We pay £250 a year for this service. As far as I was concerned it was a dedicated school bus but it appears anyone can use the service and that’s wrong.” The attack happened at 3.40pm.

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