A CYCLIST hit in the face with a stone thrown by a group of youths has reported the incident to police.

The man fell off his bike after being struck by the stone and sustained bruising and swelling around a small cut to his cheek, as well as bruising and swelling on one arm.

He had been cycling along a footpath opposite Brinkburn Pond Nature Reserve, off Darrowby Drive, in Darlington, between 3.30pm and 3.45pm on Thursday, July 20.

The stone narrowly missed cyclist's eye and a boy believed to be responsible for the incident is described as white, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 7ins tall, and aged between 12 and 14-years-old.

He is of very slim build, with short fair hair and wearing a grey sweatshirt.

Witnesses can contact Darlington Police’s PC 335 Ruck via 101, quoting incident reference 296 of July 20.