LIVES are being put at risk by yobs hurling missiles at people and motorists in Burnley, a top police officer warned today.

And Chief Inspector Chris Bithell warned officers were struggling to stop the yobs, with 169 incidents reported to police in the last month alone.

This week, a bus driver was hit in the eye after a plastic bottle was thrown through his window.

Now undercover police are to ride in taxis and on buses in a bid to catch the culprits.

Mr Bithell said nobody had been seriously injured yet but warned anyone caught throwing missiles would be locked up.

He said: "Those responsible for stone throwing simply don't appear to appreciate the gravity of their actions. To them it is a prank -- they simply don't realise the impact this damage to vehicles and distraction for motorists could cause.

"This activity is lethal -- it not only puts motorists at risk but pedestrians too because if a stone is thrown at a vehicle injuring the driver, that vehicle will swerve, putting innocent bystanders at risk."

Police are to step up high-visibility patrols in Harle Syke, Padiham Road, Manchester Road and Coal Clough.

Letters have been sent to schoolchildren and officers will go into schools to warn of the dangers. Parents are also being asked to play their part.

In January, police had to sit on buses after Burnley and Pendle Transport bosses threatened to pull services between Harle Syke and the town centre because of repeated attacks.

And in April a woman driver for Burnley and Pendle had to have weeks of, work after two teenage boys hurled a missile through her window, fracturing her eye socket.

James Dunbar, operations manager for Burnley and Pendle Travel said: "It now appears this problem is on the rise again. We support this latest police campaign and back local officers 100 per cent. This type of dangerous activity has to stop."

Mohammed Quadri, a member of the private hire committee, added: "Some drivers have had taxis damaged in stone-throwing incidents so we are keen to call a halt to this behaviour."

The latest incident happened at about 4.45pm on Monday near the Coaching House pub in Glen View Road.