An Epsom truck driver got the shock of his life last week when he was came under fire while travelling through woods in Surrey.

Terry Strutt’s vehicle was hit on the windscreen by what he believes was a .22 pellet while driving on the A309 in Hinchley Wood, close to Hook Junction, on Tuesday.

Students from Hinchley Wood School were also fired at while travelling home on a bus in the same area and a number of cars were struck and had their windows damaged or smashed between 3pm and 4pm.

Nobody was injured, but neighbourhood police inspector Richard Haycock said the consequences could have been devastating.

He said: “Clearly we would like to find the people responsible for these incidents before someone is hurt or even worse killed.

"We are appealing to members of the public to come forward if they know who is behind this.

"All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.”

Surrey Police also revealed a similar incident was reported at the same location the previous Wednesday, at about 6.45pm, when a black Volkswagen Passat was hit, causing about £150 damage to the passenger door.

It is unknown how many cars were shot at last week, but police said they had received many reports of damaged vehicles, most with smashed windows or windscreens.

This week, a Surrey Police spokesman would only describe the incidents as “objects thrown at vehicles”, but Mr Strutt said an officer had confirmed an air rifle had been used.

He said: “There is a .22 pellet mark on my truck and the police told me one of the other victims had seen someone with a rifle where it occurred.

"There is no way it was objects being thrown. The police said they were taking it very seriously and someone could have been badly injured.

“I was driving up to the Ace of Spades service station and all of a sudden there was a crash, but I didn’t realise what it was at first.

"Then I realised there was a mark right in front of my face on the windscreen. It happened so quickly.

“It was a lovely day, so I had the passenger window open and if it had come through the window or the windscreen, the pellet could have hit me in the eye.

"They weren’t aiming at the tyres and it’s lucky I wasn’t seriously hurt.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey Police on 0845 1252222 quoting crime reference EL/10/1903.