GANGS of youths have been criticised by police for throwing stones and eggs at passing cars on a busy Darlington road.

Police have received complaints from drivers and residents about youths on Neasham Road throwing things at cars.

One taxi driver had more than 30 eggs thrown at his car and a stone was thrown at the back window of another cab.

Mick Kennedy of the Darlington Taxi Drivers' Association said: "Someone is going to get seriously hurt or killed if these kids don't stop what they are doing. There are gangs of up to 20 youngsters on both sides of the road and they just pelt the cars as they go past.

"Drivers are swerving all over the road when they get hit and if something manages to break a windscreen it could be really serious. It is endangering drivers, passengers and the young people themselves.

"On top of that cars are getting damaged when they are hit by stones as well as needing cleaning to get rid of the eggs.

"We have called the police but as soon as the kids see the marked cars they run away - it doesn't seem anything can be done to stop them."

A police spokesman said: "We have taken the details of some youths and warned them about what they are doing but drivers have been unable to identify the specific individuals involved so there is little more we can do.

"It is totally unacceptable for youths to be throwing things at cars and it could be extremely dangerous. We would urge them to stop what they are doing and think about the consequences of their actions."

Similar incidents have been reported elsewhere in Darlington. Both Stagecoach and Arriva bus operators reported that their vehicles had been attacked by gangs of youths in the Red Hall, Branksome and Cockerton areas of the town.