A HUSBAND and wife had a fortunate escape after a yob threw an object from a bridge over a dual carriageway, smashing their car windscreen.

Bryan Honeywell, 60, was on the A66, in Middlesbrough, at 3pm on Sunday, when the incident happened.

The object, which was not recovered, hit the windscreen of his car and caused the glass to crack.

In the rear-view mirror of his Skoda Octavia he saw a man in brown clothing on a flyover bridge, running away towards the Whinney Banks area of the town.

"I think it was something like a golf ball that was thrown, " said Mr Honeywell, of Normanby. "It made a 50mm in diameter circle where it hit, but it spread like a cobweb for about 12 inches.

"Luckily, it was near the tax disc, so it didn't affect my vision and I was keeping an eye on the wagon in front. It was lucky I was in the slow lane and only going at about 40mph.

"My wife, Judith, was in the passenger seat and she thought she'd been shot, it was a loud crack like that. She jumped out of her skin. I pulled over at the Mandale Junction, in Leverick Crescent.

"We were shook up and I called the police. When we got home we had a cup of tea to calm down."

PC Scott Lambe, who is investigating the incident, said: "This is an extremely dangerous thing to do.

"Fortunately, the driver was able to remain in control of his vehicle and pull over safely, but it could have been a much worse outcome. For someone to deliberately put this gentleman and other road users at risk beggars belief.

"I'd urge anyone who knows the identity of the suspect to contact me, via Middlesbrough police on 01642303126 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111."