FRIGHTENED mums are demanding action after a tree branch smashed the front window of a school coach.

The double-decker was damaged as it took children from Verwood to the Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne.

Gina Burbank, 47, a postmistress from Verwood, said: “My son said the window shattered then sort of disintegrated.

“I’m just surprised no-one was seriously injured.”

She added: “One of my friends said their daughter has a scar on their head from when the same thing happened on the route three years ago.”

The police are also looking into claims pupils damaged the interior of the coach when it restarted the journey.

“It’s no wonder trouble started because the kids were frightened, they were screaming,” said parent Sally Langton, 46, a legal assistant, “My son said the hole was big enough for three kids to fall out.”

The day before the accident, one of the coaches’ windows also fell out. Police are investigating how that happened.

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: “We are looking at all aspects of the events including the condition of the vehicles, the driver’s actions, the bus route and pupil behaviour.”

Ian Grey, manager of Blandford-based Damory Coaches, said: “I would like to make the point it’s the local authority which has to keep the road clear of overhanging obstructions.

“This is a continuing source of annoyance to me as an operator that they don’t keep them clear.

“We are investigating the incident and will write back to the parents.”

His firm has been operating the route for only 2-3 weeks.

School headteacher Andy Puttock said: “We do whatever we can to support the parents and the bus companies but the services are completely run by Dorset County Council.”

Comments have been permanently removed on this story because of a minority of individuals who insisted on making personal, abusive and derogatory comments