Croydon bus assault
A 87-year-old woman was punched while travelling on a bus in Croydon Met Police

A teenage girl accused of punching an 87-year-old female pensioner in the face while travelling on a number 166 bus through Croydon has been ordered to appear in court while a second girl has been identified by the Metropolitan Police in connection with the attack.

The assault happened on 16 October and was captured on the bus' CCTV camera, showing two female suspects, aged between 14 and 18, getting on the bus at Brighton Road, Coulsdon, without paying. An argument then ensued between the girls and the bus driver, at which point most of the passengers got off.

The CCTV footage shows the elderly victim stand up, and one of the suspect punch her in the face before both of the teenagers run off. The victim was taken by the London Ambulance Service to St Helier Hospital and discharged with a black eye.

A brief Met Police statement said: "A girl arrested in connection with an assault on an elderly woman on a bus in Coulsdon has been accused of actual bodily harm (ABH). She has been bailed to appear at Croydon Youth Court on 10 December. Officers have also identified the second female involved in the incident – she has not been arrested at this time. Enquiries are ongoing."