A TAXI firm owner has warned that someone could be killed by youths throwing stones at cars.

Nick Astley, from Metro Taxis, spoke out after 10 of his drivers' vehicles were hit with stones in the past fortnight.

He said: "It is happening all of the time. Children between the ages of 10 and 18 are throwing stones and it's dangerous.

"Someone is going to die if they don’t stop what they are doing.

"The shock of having something smashing your window or windscreen could cause someone to swerve and the consequences could be horrific."

Driver Abrar Hussain was driving along Bury Road in Breightmet last Thursday when his car was hit by a stone causing the rear passenger window to shatter.

He believes it was thrown by a group of youths standing near Morrison's car park.

He said: "I had just dropped someone off and then I heard this loud bang and I slammed the brakes on and saw these children running off.

"I was quite shocked. I wasn't hurt but it has cost money to replace the window and my insurance will probably now go up."

The window cost £150 to repair.

Mr Hussain from Great Lever has been driving for over 20 years but said this has only become a problem in the past six months.

He said: "This is not just is happening in one place in Bolton but all over.

"It is too much. I won't drive along Bury Road now because I am worried that it is going to happen again."

Mr Astley wants parents to talk to their children about the dangers of their actions.

He said: "Some sort of awareness needs raising so that the children doing it realise how bad it could get.

"I have a 14-year-old son, and I don't think for one minute that he will have been involved in doing this but I will be sitting him down and having a word.

"If we are not careful a young person is going to find themselves being prosecuted for manslaughter.

"Someone will die because of people throwing stones.

"I just want to appeal to parents to have a word with their children so they realise the consequences of their actions.

"I'm not blaming the parents but they could help to stop the problem."

Mr Hussain said he had reported the latest incident to the police.

The police were not available for comment.