Stones were hurled by "mindless idiots" at three trains travelling at 80mph, smashing windows and putting lives at risk.

One driver was left with shock after two windscreens and a side window were damaged in the incidents.

Both of them happened within the space of an hour

Amazingly, no-one was injured during the attacks, which could lead to a prosecution for endangering safety - a crime that can attract a sentence of life imprisonment.

The trains were targeted as they neared Colchester station and all three had to be taken out of service for repairs.

Youths standing on a footbridge at St Dominic Road on St John's are thought to be behind the incidents which were reported at 8.40pm on Wednesday night.

PC Robert Brignell, of the British Transport Police, said a fence protecting the railway line was also damaged and he believed it was ballast stones from the track that were thrown.

He appealed for witnesses to come forward and warned: "Drivers could have been killed. This is extremely dangerous.

"It's obviously mindless idiots that are throwing the stones."

Witnesses to the incident should call British Transport Police on 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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