A PASSENGER was injured when he was hit in the face with a stone thrown through the window of a moving train.

Police say it was lucky that no-one was killed in the incident near Peterlee in which a 37-year-old man was showered with broken glass and suffered cuts to the face.

The train, the Nunthorpe to Newcastle service, was passing through the Blackhills area, just before 6.30pm on Wednesday when a stone was thrown, smashing the window and sending glass into the carriage.

Officers from British Transport Police would like to speak to anyone who may have been in the area and seen or heard anything which could help with the investigation.

A police spokesman said: "The man was injured, fortunately not badly, but this incident could have had even more serious and potentially even fatal consequences.

"We'd like to speak to anyone who knows anything about this incident so we can find those responsible".

Anyone with information is asked to call 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference number 208 26/4/17.