AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD put a much-needed ambulance out of service when he threw a brick through its windscreen.

The North East Ambulance Service vehicle was attacked in the Sunderland area. It comes just over a week after an ambulance was wrecked when it was stolen on Teesside.

Douglas McDougall, assistant operations manager for the South of Tyne said: "This is absolutely appalling behaviour.

"The vehicle has been taken off the road, and the screen will cost nearly £200 to replace, but the real cost is the fact this will leave Sunderland temporarily with a reduced level of ambulance service.

"Luckily, there was no patient inside the vehicle and the staff who were on their way back to Pallion Ambulance Station, were both unharmed."

He added: "We're fed up with people attacking our staff and vehicles.

"People have to realise the consequences of acts of mindless violence.

"This kind of interruption does not allow us to act quickly to patients and potentially patients may suffer from these actions."

Pallion Neighbourhood Sergeant Jackie Clark, said: "We take this type of behaviour very seriously, anyone who throws stones at an emergency service vehicle must know that it could cause a potential fatality.

"While it might seem like a joke this sort of stupid behaviour can have serious consequences.

"Anyone caught doing this will be dealt with by officers, even if they are too young to face arrest we will speak to their parents and make sure they are aware what their children are doing."

Last week a man was convicted after admitted taking an £80,000 ambulance on a high-speed wrecking spree.