As a retired firefighter and driver of engines, I must condemn the yobs who threw a wheel brace at a fire engine racing to answer a call (The Argus, September 1).

As a driver you are trained to a very high standard, negotiating heavy traffic at high speed to get your crew safely through it while not putting the other drivers at risk.

You are not trained how to react when mindless yobs throw a wheel brace at your windscreen.

I cannot even begin to think what would have happened had the vehicle lost control.

Not only the lives of those in the fire engine were at risk.

Thankfully, it wasn't a serious fire but, had it been, vital minutes could have been lost had people been trapped.

What goes through those people's minds when they do something like this?

I'm so glad the crews were not seriously hurt. I also hope the police catch the culprits and punish them severely.

-Name and address supplied