Vandals stopped pelting buses in Barton with stones after parents learned they could be evicted for breach of their tenancy agreement as a consequence of their children's actions.

Police and Oxford City Council issued the warning to tenants following a spate of attacks on buses in the Barton and Headington areas.

Barton and Sandhills city councillor Mick McAndrews organised a public meeting last month due to increasing alarm at the regularity of drivers and passengers being put at risk.

He said the meeting, and the Oxford Mail's coverage, hammered home to families the consequences if their children stepped out of line.

Those responsible were warned they could be given Anti-social Behaviour Orders or Acceptable Behaviour Contracts for causing trouble.

"I would go as far as to say it has been stopped," Mr McAndrews said.

"As a result of that public meeting we were able to put across what ASBOs, ABCs and curfews meant and we were determined that this behaviour wasn't going to be accepted -- kids standing by the road and throwing bricks at buses."

Anyone breaching an ASBO faces prosecution and being named and shamed, and breach of an ABC can result in cautions and further police action.

Supt Keith Ringsell, of Oxford police, said residents of the estate spoke to the children believed to have been involved.

He said: "It's self-policing. It's not vigilantism. It's about people making clear to their relatives and neighbours what is not acceptable, and the consequences which can be injury, damage and the loss of their bus service.

"This tends to be a sporadic activity in particular around school holidays. Incidents do seem to be down, but that doesn't mean they have gone away."

Sue Holden, secretary of Barton Community Association, said: "We hope that this has stopped and we think ourselves lucky.

"These kids don't realise the consequences of their actions and they have needed it explained to them."

Trevor Bayliss, Stagecoach's Oxford city route manager, said: "The community response has been excellent and because of that we haven't had any recent damage on our buses on that part of the route."

Nigel Eggleton, Oxford Bus Company commercial director, said: "The work of Cllr McAndrews, the city council and Thames Valley Police does appear to have had an affect. We very much welcome that and hope it continues."