A PASSENGER on a Severn Valley Railway pleasure trip suffered an eye injury after youths pelted the train with stones.

A spokeswoman for West Mercia Constabulary said it had received several reports concerning groups of youths shooting an air rifle or throwing objects at passing trains just outside Bewdley on Sunday, during a Thomas the Tank Engine family day.

One of the incidents, reported to have taken place shortly before 2.30pm, resulted in a male passenger receiving medical treatment from the Red Cross and two large windows being broken on the train.

In the first incident, reported at 1.15pm, four youths, described as older teenagers, were seen shooting an air rifle at trains near Bewdley tunnel.

Children were also seen throwing objects on to the track near the Kidderminster tunnel at 4.40pm that day.

A police spokesman said: "This may seem like a game to those involved but we cannot stress how serious it is.

"This irresponsible behaviour has resulted in a minor eye injury to man who should have been enjoying a relaxing day out with his family. While it was distressing to those passengers involved it could have had much more serious consequences."

He urged parents to remind their children about the dangers of playing near railway lines and stressed it was an offence to carry an air rifle in a public place, including any unloaded air weapon or imitation firearm.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents should contact Kidderminster police on 08457 444888.