POLICE are cracking down on teenage vandals who are causing millions of pounds worth of damage on public transport.

Yobs blamed for spraying graffiti and defacing seats and windows are being hunted by officers to try to improve public confidence in bus travel.

CCTV images have been released of five youths police want to interview in connection with damage incidents in Ealing.

Every year, vandalism and graffiti on public transport costs £8million to repair.

The new initiative - Operation BusTag - has led to 571 arrests made since April, including one 14-year-old teenager who admitted 19 counts of criminal damage totalling £12,000.

And another teenager was found guilty of arson with intent to endanger life as a result of the crackdown.

Chief Superintendent Mike Humphry, in charge of the transport operational command unit at Operation BusTag, said: "Some of those committing these offences believe they can never be tracked down. If crimes such as these are not tackled it is everyone who suffers."

Jeroen Weimar, Transport for London's director of transport policing and enforcement, added: "Graffiti causes disruption, creates fear and incurs substantial costs that would be better invested improving the transport network. Together we can tackle this problem and ensure a safer and more reliable journey for all."

Anyone with information should call 020 7027 8950 of Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.