A Metrolink driver was taken to hospital with chest and facial injuries after young thugs hurled a brick through the tram’s windscreen.

Passengers on board say the male driver managed to carry on to the next stop where an ambulance was waiting for him.

Images show a scene of devastation in the driver’s carriage, with the windscreen smashed and glass strewn across the floor.

The incident happened at about 9.50pm on Monday in Oldham, between the Derker and Shaw and Crompton stops as the tram travelled towards Rochdale.

(Image: Matty Worrall (Facebook))

Witnesses say they saw youths throw the brick from a bridge at the tram below.

They said it hit the driver in the chest, and images also show him having suffered cuts to the head.

The tram came to an emergency stop, but the driver was able to carry on to Shaw so he could receive treatment, and allow his passengers to safely disembark.

The ambulance service said he was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital, with suspected chest and facial injuries.

(Image: Matty Worrall (Facebook))

Now police say they are investigating the incident, and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Johnbaron Atkinson, who was on the tram at the time, said on Facebook: “Kids in between derker and shaw/crompton threw a brick off a bridge as tram was doin 50mph.

“Hit driver in the chest. He still took us to shaw where ambulance was waitin for him. What a trooper.”

A colleague of the driver wrote: “I had some very upsetting news tonight from a very good colleague, friend and a neighbour.

“He had a horrific accident and probably he doesn’t yet know how lucky he is. I wish him well.”

Another added: “Tram drivers get a lot of grief for just doing their job, and the s*** they get off kids is unreal, but this takes things to a whole new level.

(Image: Matty Worrall (Facebook))

“Things need to be sorted out, was only matter of time till a driver got injured.”

A police spokesman said: “We were called at about 9.50pm on May 8 to Acre Lane to reports that a brick had been thrown through the windscreen of a Metrolink tram while it was moving. It hit the driver, and the ambulance service was called.”

The spokesman said no arrests have been made, and investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting incident number 2476 of May 8.

A spokesman for Metrolink has been approached for comment.