THE lives of drivers are being put in danger by "reckless" youths dropping house bricks and boulders from a bridge onto traffic driving along a busy Newport road, police say.

Yesterday Gwent Police warned it could only be a matter of time before somebody could be killed following a number of incidents along the Southern Distributor Road.

Officers have received more than 50 calls over the past three months from drivers with damage to vehicles after youths deliberately threw stones or bottles at them from the bridge in Ringland over the dual carriageway near Hartridge Comprehensive School.

Police believe some of those responsible are pupils at the school. Incidents are occurring after school, throughout the evening and at weekends.

Lorry driver Leon Paul had a lucky l from front page escape when a boulder was thrown at him last month.

He said: "I was driving along the road at just under 50mph when it came from the bridge and smashed straight through the passenger side window.

"It frightened the life out of me and if it had landed on the driver's side, it would have killed me.

"Every time I drive down that road it is on my mind and I think there should be a cage put over the bridge."

Sergeant Martin Hayter, from Alway police, warned of "grave consequences" unless the problem is stamped out.

He said: "Somebody could be seriously hurt or indeed killed. "It's only a matter of time before we have a serious incident there. "Those responsible are indiscriminate and reckless with no concern for the welfare of others."

He said police are determined to catch those responsible and warned of the consequences for those who are convicted.

"Criminal damage can carry a possible custodial sentence and if something more serious happened, the consequences could be quite grave such as the unlawful taking of a life or manslaughter, " Sergeant Hayter said.

"The problem is being closely monitored and pro-actively policed by the neighbourhood policing team for the Ringland ward in conjunction with other agencies including the council."

Goff Davies, headmaster of Hartridge Comprehensive School, said: "We are aware there are problems in that area and some of the problems are caused by pupils permanently excluded from our school who gather in the car park area by the Open Hearth pub.

"If any motorists notice any actions that are dangerous we would ask them to contact us or the police immediately."

But he added: "The pupils doing this are not all youngsters from Hartridge school."

He said the school was working closely with the police to tackle the problem.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.