A 45lb lump of masonry hurled off a railway bridge bounced off the roof of a passenger train and seriously injured the driver of a freight train travelling in the opposite direction, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Joseph Paxton suffered multiple fractures to his face and a brain injury, said Gareth Walters, prosecuting.

The freight train, on the way to Brierley Hill from south Wales with a load of steel on December 17 last year, travelled on for another three quarters of a mile in Kidder-minster before it eventually stopped. Mr Paxton, who was knocked out, managed to call for help when he recovered consciousness.

In the dock were two brothers and a 17-year-old youth accused of causing damage to a train and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

A second charge relates to the lump of masonry causing damage when it hit the Central Trains passenger train.

Martin Clee, aged 22, and Kevin Clee, 18, both of Radford Avenue, Kiddermin-ster, and Daniel Ratcliffe, 17, of Edinburgh Close, Kidder-minster, were remanded on bail for a hearing on June 20 for their pleas to be entered.

Mr Walters said it did not appear that the freight train was the initial target but had been hit when the masonry bounced off the passenger train roof, leaving a dent.