STONE-THROWING yobs smashed the windows of a moving bus in Barrhead – just hours after mindless vandals targeted Neilston Juniors Football Club for the SIXTH time in a year.

The incidents are just two in a series of vandalisms across the area this summer, sparking calls for a full-scale crackdown.

Police are hunting for the culprits who attacked a McGill’s service on Arthurlie Street shortly before midday on Sunday.

Officers said they are following a positive line of enquiry.

Although no one was hurt, a McGill’s spokeswoman confirmed the bus firm was working with police to identify those responsible for the “mindless act of thuggery”.

A search is also under way for a group of youths, which included women, who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage after they climbed onto the roof of the pavilion at the Brig O’Lea Stadium in Neilston on Saturday night.

Just last week the Barrhead News told how vandals deliberately damaged eight cars in the same Barrhead street within the space of a week.

Furious car owners in Graham Street found their vehicles scratched from one end to the other – while residents of Lochlibo Terrace had wing mirrors kicked off and tyres let down in three further incidents just days later.

And in July, a drunken teen owned up to desecrating a garden dedicated to Neilston’s fallen war heroes, causing £800 in damages.

Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur, whose ward covers Barrhead, condemned the attacks, and has told residents he will raise concerns with the authorities.

He said: “I deplore all acts of vandalism, which are completely unacceptable.

“I will be sure to raise my constituents’ concerns when I next meet with Police Scotland and I encourage anyone who witnesses acts of vandalism to contact the police by phoning 101.”

Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor councillor Angela Convery, who has also been contacted by worried residents, said: “This type of vandalism and behaviour will not be tolerated in our communities.

“Mindless acts of vandalism carried out by a few individuals affects so many and can cause great personal and financial inconvenience.

“Whilst vandalism is not a widespread problem in the area, these recent incidents are concerning and I shall do my best to get to the bottom of this.”

Neilston Juniors’ officials say the most-recent incident of vandalism is the latest in a long line of targeted attacks on the club.

In the past year, yobs have: ripped up turf from the pitch, left smashed glass on the playing surface, burnt holes in nets, snapped goalposts and set fire to the stadium’s dugouts.

Rope used to raise the club flag on matchdays has also been stolen on three separate occasions.

Senior club figures are at a loss to explain why anyone would want to cause such damage – let alone do so on such a regular basis.

Mark Kirkland, Neilston Juniors’ club secretary, said: “They tried to pull a cage off and then broke some of the roof tiles and put their feet through the roof.

“It’s sad but this isn’t the first time. It’s a wee community club and it must be local people who are doing it.

“We’re definitely looking at four figures to get it fixed. But what do we do? We can’t afford full CCTV because we don’t have enough money.

“We’ve got a limited budget for players and strips.”

Neilston councillor Paul O’Kane is working with the local authority’s head of community safety to try and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

He said: “Neilston Juniors is an institution in the village and it’s a club that really is community-focused.

“It’s shocking to see people carrying out that sort of vandalism when a club is trying really hard to serve its community.

“The club are going to claim insurance to get some of the damage repaired. We’re just trying to speed that process up for them and get it done as quickly as possible.

“In a community like Neilston, eventually word will get out and you will be caught.”