Social media websites were awash with images mocking the string of bendy bus fires yesterday, as Arriva become the butt of a national joke on popular Maltese Facebook groups and pages.

One of the more popular images ran puns such as “Iċ-ċajt dwar L-Arriva vera’ jaħraqni” (Arriva jokes really burn me up) and “Sejjer naqbad tal-linja” (I’m going to catch the bus [on fire]).

While the majority of internet memes featured burning buses, others pictured contentious old buses replaced by Arriva’s. One was captioned “Our time has come” and another “We’ll be back”.

An internet meme is an idea that spreads quickly online, often taking the form of images, hyperlinks and videos.

Timesofmalta’s 2013 April Fool’s joke on the old buses soon to return even made a comeback, with some readers reposting it on Facebook.

As many as nine Arriva buses have gone up in smoke in the past year, with two bendy buses bursting into flames on Sunday and another yesterday.

Many of the comments on social media referred to former transport minister Austin Gatt, who had spearheaded the public transport reform that led to the introduction of Arriva’s operation back in June 2011.

“They should have FIRED him (Austin Gatt),” one user said.