A WOMAN has hurt and left 'extremely shocked' after a missile was thrown through a train window in Widnes.

The woman, aged in her 20s and from Liverpool, suffered facial cuts and needed treatment.

Yobs had already hurled a rock or a brick at another Liverpool bound train only an hour beforehand.

The 60mph trains were targeted at 4pm and 5pm last Wednesday.

Insp Neil Moffat of British Transport police said: "These incidents are very serious and are being treated as a priority by the BTP - they could have had much more serious consequences."

The missiles haven't been found but police think they were rocks or bricks.

They hit the right side of the train and police believe they were thrown between the station and the golf course - probably from the Upton Rocks housing estate that borders the track.

The first missile broke an outer window but it didn't shatter the inner pane - the second came straight through and hurt the woman passenger.

Crime on the railways - 'route crime' - is a perennial problem, and Widnes has suffered above average levels of incidents.

Insp Moffat said: "Route crime and the safety of the public is a serious issue, this is reflected by the sentencing powers available to the courts.

"Some route crime offences carry life imprisonment as a maximum penalty.

"The BTP will seek the heaviest sentences for detected offenders."

Anyone with information can contact BTP in confidence on 0800 405040, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.