YOUNG vandals smashed windows on a passing steam train, endangering passengers, in two attacks in as many hours in Kidderminster.

Police have urged parents to warn children of the dangers of throwing stones and playing near the railway after the attacks at 1.30pm and 3.35pm last Wednesday.

Carriage windows were smashed, causing a total of £600 damage, on a train travelling towards Kidderminster, and again when it was making its return journey, on the Severn Valley Railway line at Foley Park. Nobody was injured.

Two children - described as 4ft 6ins, one wearing a black top and one red, both wearing peaked caps - were seen at the time of the second attack.

Sgt Pete Trueman, of Kidderminster Police, said: "We are very concerned about the actions of these children. Not only are they causing damage, but putting the passengers in danger of serious injury."

The railway's marketing manager John Leach said: "We hope this remains a one-off incident.

"But from what one witness has told us about the size of the things they were throwing at the train, this wasn't just bored kids. They were intent on causing damage."