ONLOOKERS stood by and did nothing as two school children were attacked on a busy Bournemouth bus, it is claimed.

A bully repeatedly punched a 13-year-old boy over the head and doused him with 1.5 litres of soft drink as he and his 11-year-old sister made their way home.

The siblings, who are of mixed race, had to get off the Yellow Buses 2c route early to escape the abuse from two older girls, their mum claims.

The mum, who did not wish to be named, is shocked that no other passengers on board the popular Castlepoint to Pokesdown service stepped in to help.

She said: “Because I have raised my son not to hit girls he did not retaliate.

“He is quite tough. But my daughter is only 11 – she was sobbing and covering her head, saying leave us alone.”

The children were sitting on the opposite side of the single decker bus from the girls when the incident started at around 3.30pm on Thursday, she said.

“They got aggressive verbally, started swearing and calling them names, saying what are you looking at and ‘We don’t like black people’,” the mum added.

“I think it’s a real shame no one was standing up for what’s right.

“At first a young man was telling the girls to just leave them alone, but didn’t intervene.

“People just do not want to get involved. I think it’s really shocking that kids on public transport are not protected or stood up for.”

Dorset Police are investigating the matter.

Jenni Wilkinson, Head of Marketing at Yellow Buses, said: “Our driver maintains that he was aware of what he describes as ‘banter’ going on at the back of bus, not uncommon with groups of youngsters, but nothing more serious than that.

“No complaint was made to him by either the children involved or other passengers.

“All passengers are expected to behave properly when travelling on our buses.”

Drivers are advised to use their radio to contact the control room and police will be called to the bus if required, she added.