MUGGERS armed with guns and knives have been targeting passengers travelling on a number of bus routes in Waltham Forest over the last few weeks.

There has been a rise in bus attacks reported to police as muggers have threatened passengers with various weapons.

Travellers are now being warned to avoid openly flashing their mobile phones and any other valuables they carry.

Police have advised anyone who does get into a dangerous incident on a bus to alert the driver who has a direct link to the transport command unit.

Recent incidents have included: A 17-year-old boy who was robbed of his mobile phone at gunpoint by four teenagers on a 123 bus travelling down Forest Road, Walthamstow, last Thursday.

They got off the bus and headed towards Blackhorse Road tube station. The gun-wielding youth was of Mediterranean appearance, aged 18, and around 5ft 8ins. The other three boys were described as black and around 18.

Another lad who was robbed of his £200 Sony Eriksson mobile phone and £30 cash by two knife-wielding 18-year-olds on the 275 bus in Hoe Street last Thursday.

The terrified 17-year-old was too scared to call for help as they searched him at the back of the bus at around 8.30am.

He was allowed to get off outside Waltham Forest College, Forest Road, while his robbers remained there heading towards Highams Park.

One of the robbers was around 5ft 6ins with short, twisted, black Afro hair and a blue Nike hooded top with a white tick on the chest. Two other youths were present but did not take part in the robbery.

A plucky have-a-go hero who managed to fight off two teenage boys when they approached a 15-year-old lad on a W11 bus and demanded his phone.

The youths moved through the bus towards the teenager during their trip at around 9.30pm on Tuesday, February 3. They insisted they had seen him with a phone the previous week.

He called for help from a 21-year-old man. The man argued with the youths and struggled with them.

The bus driver stopped the vehicle in North Countess Road, Walthamstow, and the youths ran off in the direction of Forest Road. They were described as around 17, black, with stocky builds, wearing low-slung trousers and Nike shoes.

But despite these incidents a police spokeswoman insisted the fear of crime was still far greater than the actual threat.

She said: "Carrying a mobile phone can prove extremely useful and can make you feel safer. However, mobile phone robbery is increasingly common and using your phone can actually make you a target for crime. Turn it to silent if possible.

"Try to sit near the driver or another passenger and avoid going upstairs. Sit on the aisle seat where possible and if you are pestered, complain to the driver or guard or use the emergency communication bell or cord."

A London Buses spokeswoman said that CCTV was now being used in many buses across the capital. If a particular part of Waltham Forest was being targeted by muggers, London Buses would inform the transport police.

Anyone who is involved in an assault or sees a suspicious incident should contact Waltham Forest police on 8529 8666.