TEENAGE vandals are being warned that they could be risking motorists' lives after a bus was struck by stone throwers in Burnley.

Police have issued a warning to parents and youngsters after two incidents in the space of 40 minutes on Yorkshire Street, in the town centre, on Monday.

In the first incident a First Group bus, travelling into Burnley from Rochdale, was targeted as it drove under the viaduct on Yorkshire Street, at around 4.15pm.

Police say a stone hit the front window of the bus, causing the vehicle, which was en-route to Burnley bus station, to brake sharply.

Detectives will be examining CCTV footage from the vehicle, and film from town centre spy cameras, in a bid to find out more information about the vandals, who caused damage totalling £1,000 to the bus.

Following that attack, the windscreen of a black BMW was also hit by a missile, at around 4.55pm, along the same stretch of road.

Insp Vicky Crorken, of Burnley Police, said: "We want to appeal for witnesses to both of these incidents. This is an extremely dangerous thing to do.

"People have been killed as a result of having stones thrown off bridges at their vehicles.

"These youngsters need to think about the consequences of their actions as they could actually find themselves in court, charged with a very serious offence which carries a term of imprisonment."

Police are asking any other drivers, who may have been affected by the incident on Monday afternoon, to come forward.

People in the Yorkshire Street area, or anyone walking along the Leeds Liverpool Canal between 4pm and 5pm, who may have seen the stone throwers, is asked to call Burnley Police on 01282 425001 .