A COACH loaded with college students travelling on the M5 was damaged when an unknown missile was thrown at it.

It was the latest in a series of incidents in which objects have been thrown from a bridge over the motorway at Bromsgrove and police say is could have caused a fatal collision.

The unknown object was thrown at the coach at 4.45pm on Thursday, near to the junction with the M42. It caused a small round hole in the windscreen which then had to be replaced at a cost of £400.

It follows an incident, on Tuesday, June 19, in which a brick was thrown at a lorry, smashing its windscreen.

On the morning of Wednesday, June 13, a cone was thrown on to the motorway, damaging a car, and on the evening of Friday, May 18, four drivers reported their cars had been hit by eggs.

"The vehicle involved in this latest incident was a 53-seater coach which was fully loaded with a party of college students returning from a trip to a theme park," said a police spokesman.

"Patrols have been stepped up and those responsible could be charged with criminal damage with intent to endanger life - for which the maximum penalty is life imprisonment."

Parents are being asked to speak to their children to remind them of the dangers of throwing any items at vehicles, and possibly of a fatal collision if a driver loses control as a result.

Anyone with information about the incidents should call police on 08457 444888 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.