A spokesman for the Garayar bus company said yesterday that it will cost around €220,000 to replace the vehicle that was destroyed after being set alight by a group of hooded individuals in Hernani last Sunday evening.

The incident occurred at around 9.30pm on the calle Hernani when the youths forced the driver of the bus, which had no passengers on board at the time, out of the vehicle before throwing in several incendiary devices.

The spokesman said that the "latest generation" bus, which covered the Hernani-Ayete-San Sebastián route, was just seven years old.

This is the second time the company has been targeted by separatist vandals, the last time being in 2000.

The same spokesman also said that everything possible is being done to ensure minimal disruption to normal services.