A GANG of teenagers smashed a motorist's car window with stones before throwing a firework as he inspected the damage.

Mark Ford made an emergency stop as a stone smashed the driver's side window of the car as he drove along Roseberry Road, Redcar.

He and wife, Ellie, who was also covered by shattered glass, got out to inspect the damage and were joined by a female motorist, whose car had also been pelted by stones.

It was then the same gang aimed a firework at the three.

Former Royal Navy seaman Mr Ford, 42, said: "As I, my wife and the lady stood on the side of the road, a rocket came shooting towards us."

The woman told the Fords that only half an hour before, a car belonging to a friend of hers had also been attacked and a window smashed.

The couple, who live in Skelton, were on their way to visit a niece in Redcar when he saw the gang in the street ahead of him at about 8.55pm on Wednesday.

He said: "I saw them and just got a feeling they were up to something. I slowed down to 20mph.

"Driving at night, it is dark and it takes all your concentration watching all the other cars.

"With something like this happening, you could easily veer on to the pavement.

"It is dreadful. I just hope something can be done. Over the years I was in the Navy I came back to the area on visits and just saw it getting worse.

"I am really questioning whether I want to stay here and not move on."

The Redcar incident follows two similar attacks on buses on Teesside.

A missile was thrown through a bus window in Ennis Square, Dormanstown, on Sunday evening, cutting the driver's wrist.

And a boy is still being hunted after he threw a hammer through the window of a bus in Ingram Road, Middlesbrough, last Friday, showering a male passenger with glass. He suffered cuts and bruises,

Police said officers caught some of the Redcar gang and gave them warnings.

They are appealing for witnesses to call (01642) 302626.