‘Kids were cowering’: bus carrying children attacked near Old Trafford

A bus driver has told of how children hid under seats as a coach carrying Manchester United fans was mistakenly attacked near Old Trafford on Monday night.

With its passengers apparently taken for Liverpool fans – or even the visiting team – the vehicle was pelted with objects as it made its way through an area heavily populated with United supporters before the Premier League game. The bus, owned and branded by the Manchester-based Beeline VIP Coaches, was transporting a touring group of mostly schoolchildren from South Africa.

The incident occurred just over half a mile away from the stadium outside the Tollgate pub, where United supporters had congregated in huge numbers for a protest march against the club’s owners, the Glazer family.

Adam Bradshaw, the driver and the owner of the coach company, said: “It was a school group from South Africa on a football tour. They’ve come over here to visit as many clubs in the UK as they can and play a few games.

“Part of the programme was to go to the game last night because they are all massive United fans. They all had the scarves and shirts on and were excited for the game.

“Then we were outside that pub, the Tollgate. They started throwing bottles and cans at us for absolutely no reason. Kids were cowering under the seats and in the aisleways. It wasn’t good at all.

“I’m a Manchester-based firm, with Manchester written all over the back of the bus in massive letters and with a big Manchester bee on it. It’s hard to believe they thought we were Liverpool fans.”

We’ve all seen the video circulating on social media last night. Be assured everything is ok with the children, coach & the driver. Luckily there was no injuries or damage done to the coach and it just needed a good