Terror of 'brick' crash

The frightened driver saw the man launch an object from the bridge as he approached it on the westbound carriageway on Friday evening (October 8).

Scared that it might smash through his windscreen, he ducked down into the passenger seat and heard the object, possibly a brick or large stone, crash down onto the roof of his van.

The 54-year-old from Parkstone remained in control of his van and contacted police within minutes.

Officers went to Winston Way and Queensway at either end of the bridge and made house-to-house inquiries, but were unable to locate the vandal. No-one was injured.

PC Chris White of Ringwood police station said: "The potential is horrific."

The incident is the latest in a list of similar attacks that have threatened the lives of motorists on the busy, fast, stretch of dual carriageway on the main trunk road linking the M27 with Bournemouth, Wimborne and Poole.

Usually the incidents have taken place below the Winston Way footbridge but there have been others at the Poulner interchange half a mile to the east.

After an incident in the spring, New Forest Safety Partnership investigated installing closed circuit television cameras and improved lighting in the area to attempt to reduce the risk of repeats.

Cllr Goff Beck, who holds the crime and disorder portfolio at New Forest District Council, said cameras and lighting had not been installed.

Research suggested children kicking stones as they crossed the footbridge could have been to blame.

To counter the problem, the space between the bottom of the handrail and the footpath was filled in.

Until the incident just after 7.30pm on Friday, there had been no reports of missiles hitting vehicles.

Mr Beck said: "If there's a pattern, then it will be reviewed. We will now monitor this."

The man police are hunting was wearing a short white jacket and dark trousers.

Information to PC White on 0845 045 4545.

First published: October 14