Five police officers were injured when drunken yobs attacked them on the top deck of a Brighton bus.

Three young men and a man in his forties were arrested after violence flared on the Whitehawk-bound No 1 bus.

Police boarded the bus after jeering youths shouted abuse at officers dealing with a road accident in Upper Rock Gardens at 11pm on Sunday.

The driver had already radioed that there was trouble from a group making its way home on the last bus from the town centre to Whitehawk.

Intervened Police intervened when the Brighton and Hove Bus Company double-decker stopped at the bus stop near the junction of Upper Rock Gardens and Eastern Road.

A police spokesman said: "Two officers went on to the upper deck of the bus and were assaulted as they tried to calm the situation. They were sworn at and subjected to considerable abuse.

"They radioed for assistance and when further officers arrived they too were assaulted on the top deck. Four people were arrested, three males aged between 17 and 21 and one man in his forties.

They have been bailed to appear in court.

"The officers were not seriously injured."

There has been friction between the police and a small group of youths on the Whitehawk estate over the past few months which culminated in serious disturbances on the night of April 28.

Fourteen youths, including five juveniles, will appeal at Lewes Crown Court later this year in connection with the disturbances.

A 24-year-old woman has also been charged with affray and cruelty to a police dog.

Des Turner, MP for Brighton Kemp Town, which includes Whitehawk, said: "There is a lot of anti feeling towards the police from a minority on the estate who have had their own way for too long.

"This is another incident by the minority who are not helping the reputation of the estate, where the majority of people are decent, law-abiding citizens."

Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses, was unavailable for comment.