SHOCKING images of the damage to a car hit by a concrete block thrown from a bridge over the A12 have been released by police.

SHOCKING images of the damage to a car hit by a concrete block thrown from a bridge over the A12 have been released by police.

Detectives hope the pictures of David Ackland's battered Landrover Discovery will put a stop to a series of reckless attacks against motorists.

The 48-year-old from Essex was lucky to escape without injury after a large piece of concrete smashed through the sunroof of his car near Chelmsford.

The block missed Mr Ackland but landed on his backseat where his granddaughter would normally be sat.

There were about 12 similar incidents along the A12 last month and several vehicles have been damaged and two motorists injured.

Three teenagers from Chelmsford have been arrested and released on bail in connection with the investigation.

Mr Ackland, from Romford, said: “I had just passed under the bridge when a lump of concrete crashed through my roof - had I passed a second later it would have hit me and probably killed me.

The attack against Mr Ackland's car happened just before 7.30pm on November 12 as he headed north under the Fryerning Lane bridge.