Unruly schoolchildren are running wild on a Wimbledon bus route by intimidating passengers, causing damage and shouting abuse.

The adolescents have been plaguing bus drivers, commuters and shoppers with their aggressive behaviour on the Mitcham Belle 200 service.

Mitcham Belle operations manager Tony Clark said vandalism and graffiti had been persistent problems on the buses for months.

He told the News: Thats why were spending money on updating our security by February with digital TV cameras on board our buses.

Mr Clark cited several examples of bad behaviour committed on the companys vehicles.

Emergency door hammers have been smashed and stolen, there is graffiti on windows and they (the youngsters) rip the seats. Its a problem which Wimbledon Police have been made aware of.

Councillor Allan Jones highlighted another example of unruly behaviour at a council meeting last week.

He said: There were two police officers who patrolled outside Centre Court but because they were intimidated, they were no longer willing to police that area.

Centre Court Shopping Centre manager Graham Webb confirmed he is in discussion with police, bus companies, schools and Transport for London to consider a way forward.

He added: Ive had no reports of any greater incidents. There are some longer term initiatives which were going to start in the new year by going into schools to create awareness of personal safety. We think thats quite positive.

MP Roger Casale is preparing a report, to be published early next year, to tackle unruly behaviour in the town centre.

We know its quite a problem but we need to get the different agencies together and Im looking to issue a report in the new yea, he said.

A Wimbledon Police spokesman confirmed there had been sporadic problems but added: Its not happening on such a regular basis that we can pinpoint whats occurring. This is unusual because they tend to be fairly mute in the mornings, generally its when theyre coming home.

The number of police on the beat has risen as part of the Metropolitan Polices Christmas initiatives operations Seneca and Bumblebee which aim to tackle crimes on buses, deter burglars and offer safety advice to residents.