THE driver of a 44-tonne truck had a lucky escape when someone threw a brick from a bridge near York and shattered his windscreen.

The missile was thrown from a bridge over the A64 at Tadcaster at about 7.10am yesterday, and struck the passing Leyland HGV.

The truck, transporting animal feed, belonged to W & S Winterburns & Sons of Skipton, and was being driven by Andy Dickinson, 69, who was uninjured in the incident.

William Winterburn, owner of the haulage firm, said although the windscreen wasn’t completely knocked through, the consequences could have been much more serious.

He said: “Our trucks do 125,000 miles a year, and you see people standing on bridges and it always concerns me. I always change lanes. They think it’s a game. This vehicle was 44 tonnes. If the brick had gone through the window and hit Andy or made him lose control, it could have been fatal.”

Sergeant Neil Dunn, of Selby Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This was a dangerous incident which could have been much more serious for the driver and his passenger.

“Fortunately, they were uninjured, but incidents like this can potentially lead to serious or fatal injuries.”

Police have urged anyone with information or who saw the incident to phone 0845 6060247, or speak to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.