Three teenagers who pelted vans, lorries and a school bus with objects on the M4 have been spared jail.

The trio were seen on the evening of June 7 two years ago on the footbridge near Newbury catapulting items at vehicles on the motorway below.

One of the vehicles struck by the boys was a coach carrying schoolchildren. Police said it was only good fortune that prevented anyone from being seriously injured or killed.

Appearing before Reading Crown Court, Tyler Inglut, now 18, of Sagecroft Road, Thatcham, Josh Rogers, 18, of Sandstone Grove, Hermitage, and a 17-year-old boy from Thatcham who cannot be named as he is under 18 pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage being reckless as to whether lives were endangered.

Inglut and Rogers were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years and ordered to complete 300 hours’ of unpaid work and 35 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.

The 17-year-old was made subject to an enhanced youth rehabilitation order with two years’ supervision and a three month electronically monitored curfew.

Each of the boys was given a year to pay £400 in compensation.

Det Con Tara Hamilton of Thames Valley Police said: “The reckless acts of Inglut, Rogers and the other boy were highly dangerous and caused damage to a number of vehicles.

“It was only by good fortune that nobody was seriously injured or possibly even killed.

“Traffic on that stretch of the motorway would have been quite heavy and fast-moving, and clearly throwing or catapulting items at vehicles is extremely dangerous. The actions of these three put people’s lives in danger.

“We will never tolerate such reckless behaviour, and these convictions show clearly to others the implications such actions can have, not only on the public, but also on those that commit the acts.”