GANGS are operating on bus routes through Leytonstone and have carried out a spate of muggings.

Nasreen Akhtar said her 16-year-old son was grabbed round the neck and had his pocket searched by two men on the top deck of the number 257 bus.

The Warwick School, Walthamstow, pupil suffered cuts and bruises to his head as he came home from school last Monday afternoon. The men, both described as 18, struck near the Green Man roundabout.

Ms Akhtar said CCTV cameras on the bus were not working.

"He was a bit shocked and really upset which is natural after going through something like that," she said.

"They took his phone, his wallet and even tried to take his ring of his finger then legged it off the bus.

"I am angry. It is happening a lot on the 257. Police can't do anything when the cameras are not working. Everybody says there is an improvement in services but we are getting sweet FA."

Three days later, on the same route, a 21-year-old man was mugged by youths who pulled his bag until he let go, while he was sitting on the top deck at 8.40pm in Leytonstone High Road.

In another mugging a gang of more than ten youths pulled a 25-year-old man's coat over his head then punched him before removing a mobile phone from his pocket while he was travelling on a bus at Crownfield Road, Leytonstone, a day later.

The group, who were all black, aged around 16 and wore dark clothing and bandanas over their faces, then snatched a woman's handbag before getting off.

Transport for London (TfL) said the service was operated by First group which was not required to install CCTV cameras.

A spokesman said: "A new contractor will now be taking over this route and will have spanking brand new buses with fully fitted CCTV cameras. In the meantime TfL is working with the Transport Operational Command Unit which works to deter crime and anti-social behaviour on buses, at bus stops and bus garages and on roads along the agreed bus routes with a specific focus on crime."