A TEENAGE gunman fled after he fired on a van driver in rush-hour traffic.

Witnesses said the youth stood on the roadside and shot at the driver as he crossed a busy viaduct.

The terrified man ducked as the bullet shattered his windscreen, causing him to swerve into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, a blue Rover car, managed to avoid the van, which was travelling at 40mph when it was hit by the bullet.

The shooting happened shortly after 7.30am, on Friday, on the Newton Cap Viaduct in Bishop Auckland, but details were only released yesterday.

The victim and the driver of a VW Golf car, which was behind the van, both got out of their vehicles and gave chase as the gunman, believed to be aged between 14 and 17, ran from the scene.

They lost him when he disappeared into woodland at Newton Cap Bridge.

PC Chris Leutchford, of Bishop Auckland police, said: "There is no explanation why the teenager picked out the Fiat van, but he quite clearly selected his target.

"It was a stupid thing to do and could so easily have caused a crash. It was fortunate indeed that no one was hurt.''

Police would particularly like to talk to the driver of a blue Rover car, which carried on its journey towards Toronto, Bishop Auckland, and the driver of the light green metallic Volkswagen Golf.

They said the teenager, who has been described as having short ginger hair, is of thin build and about 5ft 9in tall.

It is believed he knows the area very well because of how quickly he was able to get away.

The youth was wearing an Army-style camouflage jacket that looked too big for him, an ammunition band around his waist and dark trousers.

Police last night appealed for witnesses to the incident.

Anyone who may be able to help in the investigation is asked to contact PC Leutchford at Bishop Auckland police station, on (01388) 603566.