A young woman had a lucky escape when she was struck by a snooker ball thrown through the window of a bus.

A police spokesman said the 20-year-old was sitting in the number eight bus on Hylton Road, Sunderland, at 8.50pm on Tuesday when a man at the side of the road threw a snooker ball.

The ball smashed through a side window of the bus and hit the woman on the neck. She was showered with glass, but suffered only minor cuts and bruises.

The Stagecoach bus, which was on its way into the city centre, contained five other passengers and the driver.

The suspect is described as aged 15 to 20, about 5ft 9in, with short fair hair. He was wearing a three-quarter length black duffel coat with the hood pulled up. He was with a smaller male. Anyone with information has been asked to call 0191-454 7555, ext 66226 or 66251.