A reckless gunman has been taking potshots at cars on the M20 in a spate of dangerous attacks.

Airgun pellets have been fired at fast-moving vehicles on the London-bound carriageway near the M26 - leaving at least one motorist injured.

Kent Police received reports of three attacks on cars within just an hour on Tuesday evening, when the motorway was packed with commuter traffic.

In one shooting, the front passenger window of a Peugeot 206 car was struck - with shattered glass cutting the driver's face and the pellet hitting his arm.

The man was forced to pull over onto the hard shoulder and call for help.

The driver said it happened as he drove under a bridge half a mile before the turn off to the A20.

On the same evening, an Audi A4 car was left with a large dent and another car's back passenger window was shattered in separate attacks.

Officers are now warning motorists to be vigilant as they hunt the culprit.

The potshots were fired onto the M20 near J3 with the M26 at Wrotham Heath - where a footpath runs parallel with the motorway - between 6pm and 7pm.

The footpath and motorway are separated by a three-foot wooden fence, beyond which is a dense area of stinging nettles and brambles.

Ch Insp Jon Kirby, from Kent Police and pictured left, said: "We are extremely concerned that someone appears to be firing projectiles at fast moving vehicles. The consequences of this are horrific.

"Whoever is doing this clearly hasn't thought through the consequences of his or her actions and needs to be caught immediately. We are focussing all of our efforts on doing this.

"In the meantime, I urge all motorists using the M26 to be aware of what has taken place and to report any suspicious activity to police."

Witnesses or anyone with information about who might be involved is asked to phone Ch Insp Kirby at Kent Police on 101 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.