POLICE are hunting vandals who hurled a missile at the cab of a high-speed passenger train.

The driver of the Kings Cross to Glasgow express escaped injury as the toughened windscreen did not shatter.

But officials at train operator GNER say the vandals were putting lives at risk.

The incident happened at about 3.50pm on Saturday, as the train was approaching Durham City on the East Coast Main Line.

A stone or rock was thrown at the cab between Langley Moor and the city's viaduct.

The train was able to continue to Newcastle but was 55 minutes late as trains with damaged windscreens cannot do more than 20mph.

"At Newcastle, the train was changed around so that the engine with the damaged cab was at the back of the train," said a GNER spokesman.

"The offenders should be punished accordingly. Not only were they putting the life of GNER staff and passengers at risk, they were risking their own lives from the overhead power cables.

"It is a very disappointing incident and we would encourage the authorities to take strong action against the offenders."

British Transport Police are investigating the incident.