This picture from May 5 1978, shows the extent of damage to a bus after it had its screen shattered by young children.

A Blackburn Corporation bus driver was lucky to escape serious injury when the windscreen of his vehicle was smashed.

Mr Jim Pettit had the window of the bus he was driving smashed by young children who threw stones on Preston New Road in Blackburn.

The father of two, of Oxford Drive, Knuzden, was forced to stop the bus on the busy main road and send for help.

He said of the crash: "I was frightened to death at the time, it came as a real shock and completely shattered and windscreen.

"Luckily the glass only came out the top and didn't shower me or the passengers.

"It could have been a very dangerous if I had been overtaking at the time."

Mr Pettitt, a driver on the corporation for seven years, said it was the first time he had heard of a stone-throwing incident smashing a screen.

He added: "I have heard of incidents where stones have been thrown at the side of buses."

The incident took place at 4.30pm and the culprits were young children seen running away near St Silas's Church. The bus was repaired by maintenance men and a replacement screen fitted before 9pm.