'Someone could have been killed'

Sikander Khan, 48, was driving his private hire car down Brownside Road at about 12.15am on Sunday when he was attacked by a gang of four or five youngsters.

The brick was thrown through the back window of the taxi, hitting Mr Khan's passenger on the cheek.

Although both the taxi driver and the passenger chased after the youths they escaped.

Police were called and officers are now investigating.

Mr Khan, a married father of seven who lives in Colne Road, Burnley, and works for Union Cabs in Plumbe Street, said: "I was driving fairly slowly down the road near the bridge when I saw a group of about four or five youngsters by the side of the road.

"The next thing I knew a brick had been thrown through the rear side window hitting the passenger in the cheek.

"It was a terrifying moment and it was lucky the passenger wasn't more seriously hurt.

"Someone could have been killed.

"This sort of thing happens all the time with kids chucking stones and eggs at cars."

The passenger waited with Mr Khan for the police but left in another cab shortly after the incident.