A LORRY driver has been left shaken after his vehicle was targeted by fruit hurling vandals twice within a matter of minutes.

A LORRY driver has been left shaken after his vehicle was targeted by fruit hurling vandals twice within a matter of minutes.

Police warn the incident on the A143 at Ixworth, near Bury St Edmunds, last week put both the lorry driver and the public in general at serious risk of injury.

The driver of the white Volvo was making his way along the carriageway when a piece of fruit was thrown from a Ford Escort heading towards Diss.

The fruit smashed against the lorry driver’s windscreen and cracked the glass.

The driver, police say, got out to check the vehicle and decided he could not continue his journey so turned back to retrace his steps.

However, shortly after setting off on the return trip, his lorry was struck once again by a piece of flying fruit.

It is understood that the second piece of fruit, which caused further damage, was thrown from the same Ford Escort as involved in the previous incident and that the driver had turned around in order to carry out the attack.

A spokeswoman for the police said incidents of items being hurled at moving vehicles were very rare.

She said she was not aware of people previously throwing fruit at vehicles. It is not known what type of fruit was used in the incident.

“Clearly anything like this whether it is deliberate or accidental is incredibly dangerous. The driver and others on the road were put at considerable risk and it is fortunate nobody was harmed.

“The driver was shaken up by what happened and it has stopped him from doing his job which will affect him financially.”

Police want to speak to anyone who may have been driving in the area last Tuesday at 10.40pm and may have seen the Escort, or anyone else with any information about this incident.

Anybody with information should call Sgt Kevin Jay at the St Edmundsbury rural north safer neighbourhood team on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.