A couple were lucky to escape without injury after a brick was thrown at their car from a bridge, shattering their windscreen.
Anthony Cowan and his wife Angela had been to Costco in Gateshead and were on their way home to Birtley when the incident took place at around 7.15pm on Monday.
They were on Askew Road, heading towards the A1, when a brick was thrown at their black Jaguar, breaking the glass.
Mr Cowan, who had been travelling within the speed limit of 50mph, pulled over and was left shaken. The matter was reported to the police, who said they had received other calls about similar incidents that evening.
Mr Cowan, 55, who runs a haulage company, said they could have been injured or an accident could have occurred and there could have been a fatality.
"We were on Askew Road and suddenly there was a hell of a bang," he said. "The windscreen shattered and I pulled over at the side of the road, shaking and panicking.
"My wife and I were both shocked. I rang the police and they said I was the second person who had reported someone throwing a brick off the bridge like that.
"Without a doubt, someone could have been injured or even killed - throwing a brick at a car travelling at 50mph. We could have had an accident. I'm just pleased the brick didn't hit either of us.
"I can't understand why some people would do that, I just cannot understand it. I want to warn people that this kind of thing is going on."
Northumbria Police say their officers received a number of reports of snowballs and ice being thrown at cars in the Gateshead area and warned that this behaviour was "incredibly dangerous".
A spokesperson said: “Yesterday evening (Monday) we received several reports of snowballs and ice being thrown at cars from bridges in the Gateshead area near Junction 69.
“And at 7.15pm yesterday we received a report of a stone or brick being thrown at a black Jaguar, causing the car’s windscreen to shatter.
“The driver was able to safely pull over but was left shaken. Thankfully, nobody was injured on this occasion but I want to warn everybody of the tremendous dangers caused by this type of mindless behaviour.
“We will always look to deal with anybody responsible robustly – and ordinarily this type of behaviour would result in criminal prosecution.
“I would also ask all parents of children who live in easy travelling distance of a motorway or major roads to remind their loved ones that this type of activity is incredibly dangerous and can have fatal consequences."
