A VITAL hospital hopper bus was left needing repairs after “mindless vandals” smashed two windows over the bank holiday weekend.

Harwich Connexions runs the Hospital Hopper Bus, which is funded by the Harwich and District Fellowship for the Sick.

It helps patients and hospital visitors get from Harwich to hospitals in Colchester for just £6.

But on Tuesday morning it was discovered the two rear windows of one of the buses had been smashed.

It is thought to have happened between noon on Monday and 8am on Tuesday.

Debbie Rotchell, executive co-ordinator of Harwich Connexions, said: “Luckily, we had one other vehicle available and we were able to carry on and take those people who had booked on the service.”