A GANG of children bombarded a train with stones outside a Bolton station.

Passengers on the 6.24pm train from Manchester Victoria to Blackburn on Friday watched from the windows as the gang "stoned" the First North Western train near Hall i'th' Wood station.

The train had passed through the station before stopping for around seven minutes while the driver reported a problem with the brakes.

One passenger travelling to Bromley Cross contacted the police after seeing five boys and a girl standing on the embankment off Pimlott Road, throwing stones at the stationary train.

He said: "They were aged about 14, but the girl was no older than 12. I saw her throw half a brick.

"Luckily, most of the stones were falling short of the train so no damage was caused. But if this continues, someone is going to get hurt.

"I was stunned at the malice of their behaviour, and that they were brazen enough to do it with Astley Bridge police station just 100 yards away."

A police spokesman said: "We take incidents like this very seriously. Officers did attend the scene, but the youths had moved on. We will be working with our colleagues in the transport police to make sure there are no further incidents."