MP's plea as rock thrown at tram injures passenger

Photo: Matty Worrall

ALL smashed up . . . a damaged tram from an incident in May

A METROLINK passenger has been injured after rocks were thrown at three trams in Oldham yesterday.

The woman was hit by a rock on a service travelling between Freehold and Westwood shortly before 10.30am.

An ambulance was called and the woman was treated at the scene.

The line, which runs between Rochdale and East Didsbury, was suspended for a short time following the incident as three trams were sent back to the depot for repairs.

An investigation has been launched by Greater Manchester Police and witnesses are being urged to come forward.

Urgent

Following the latest incident, Oldham MP Jim McMahon has called for "urgent action" to tackle the issue.

The MP for Oldham West and Royton said: "Local residents in Oldham have been reporting rocks being thrown here for over a year.

"Action needs to be taken urgently before someone is killed by a rock being thrown either at passing cars or at the tram itself."

It follows another incident on the Oldham line in May where Metrolink driver Sean Vella was left with chest and facial injuries after a rock was hurled through the front window of his tram.