A TAXI driver feels lucky to have escaped unharmed when a brick or other large stone thrown high into the air smashed his windscreen during a rush-hour drive through the town centre.

Paul Lovell said it was as if the rock had ‘dropped out of the sky’ as he drove along Shambles Street back towards the taxi rank on Tuesday tea time.

“I’d just passed National Tyres and there was this almighty thud,” said Paul , 51, of Sitka Close, Royston.

"It frightened me to death. I didn't know what it was, I thought a bomb had gone off or something.

"I realised someone must have thrown a brick or whatever it was, I didn't stop to look for it, I just drove on through the traffic and went straight round to the police station."

Hackney driver Paul drives for AA Taxis, and owner Donald Mills joined Paul at the Police Station. He believes someone threw the missile from the seating area close to the back of the Lamproom Theatre which overlooks Shambles Street.

"It could have killed someone," he said. "If it had hit a pedestrian on the head, or it had come through the screen and caused Paul to have a crash, it could have been really serious.

A police spokesman said: “At around 5.10pm on Tuesday it was reported that damage was caused to a taxi while on Shambles Street, Barnsley town centre. An object is said to have been thrown at the taxi.

“Anyone with information in relation to this incident should call 101 quoting reference B/123555/2017.”