Vandals hurled stones at a train passing through Telford, damaging one of its windows, police said today. The driver of the London Midland train service was forced to stop at Shrewsbury.The 2.47pm service had been travelling from Birmingham New Street at about 4pm yesterday when it was targeted near the Waterloo Road overbridge in Ketley.

It forced the London Midland to cancel three trains – the 2.57pm and the 3.35pm services from Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street and the 5.57pm from Birmingham New Street to Shrewsbury.

Other drivers were asked to travel through the area cautiously.

Daljinder Mattu, British Transport Police spokeswoman, said: “Throwing objects at trains is extremely dangerous and this offence could have easily resulted in serious injuries to people on board the trains.

“Not only are those who throw stones at trains risking serious injury to passengers and staff, they are also risking an appearance in court.

“A criminal conviction is a high price to pay for mindless fun.”

Councillor Martin Young, Ketley Parish Council chairman, said today: “My heart goes out to the person driving.

“It’s terrible. People just don’t realise the damage they do when they throw stones.”

He said he would be trying to arrange a meeting with local schools to see if they could spread the message about railway safety and the dangers of throwing stones.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact BTP on 0800 405040.