POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a ball bearing was fired at a bus with such force that it smashed two windows.

The ball bearing shattered the nearside window of Stagecoach's number 24 service as it travelled along Neasham Road, Darlington, at 9.25pm on Monday.

But it was fired with such force - probably from a catapault - that after shattering that window it continued through the bus and broke the window on the other side.

Stagecoach's divisional traffic manager, Richard Cranmer, said yesterday that none of the five passengers on board were injured, although one was shaken by the attack.

He said: "Unfortunately these attacks do happen from time to time.

"The perpetrators see the bus as fair game and think it's a nice big target, but what they don't seem to realise is that the chances of someone being injured are really very high.

"A ball bearing is virtually a bullet. If it had hit someone square on it could have done a lot of damage."

Acting Detective Inspector Alec Francis said: "Irrespective of the ages of the offenders, everyone is aware that these incidents are very, very dangerous.

"The ramifications and consequences of these actions don't bear thinking about."

Anyone with information is asked to contact (01325) 467681.