A former Dereham journalist escaped unharmed when a window of his train carriage shattered just outside Diss, showering him with broken glass.Charlie Catchpole, 63, was 'covered top to toe' in sharp shards of glass when the window smashed - but escaped with only a small cut on his forehead.

A former Dereham journalist escaped unharmed when a window of his train carriage shattered just outside Diss, showering him with broken glass.

Charlie Catchpole, 63, was 'covered top to toe' in sharp shards of glass when the window smashed - but escaped with only a small cut on his forehead.

The former EDP journalist said he was lucky he had been looking down at the time of the incident, otherwise he feared he could have been blinded.

'I found it really worrying. If someone had been sitting in that seat they would have been a goner - they certainly could have been blinded.

'It was just luck that it happened when the train wasn't crowded. I dread to think what could have happened if the train was full.

'I'm a bit shaken by it but I'm not going to let it stop me coming to watch Norwich City play. I'm tougher than that.'

Mr Catchpole, who lives in Teddington, London, was returning home from visiting his mother in Saxlingham Nethergate on the 4pm Norwich to Colchester service on Sunday evening.

The train was between Diss and Stowmarket when the window was smashed, showering the whole carriage with broken glass.

After the incident the train continued to Ipswich, where it was taken out of service and British Transport Police began their investigation.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said the incident was reported at about 5.20pm, and that the window was smashed by an unknown object.

She said: 'BTP take these types of incidents very seriously and we are appealing for anyone with any information about the incident to come forward.

'Not only can throwing stones and other missiles cause delays and cancellations to services, there is also the potential for a serious accident or injury to be caused to passengers and staff as a result of these offences.'

If you have any information regarding this incident, you can contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 quoting number 291 of 14/03/2010, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.