A bus driver who was left with a ball bearing embedded in his face after a vicious attack, has spoken out about the terrifying experience.

Nestor De Barros was left with the steel object lodged in his cheek after Callum Walters fired it out of a catapult, at close-range, earlier this year.

The 18-year-old ran off following the assault, but was tracked down after CCTV images of him were released.

Warning: This story contains graphic images.

The Maidstone driver, who was half way through his shift at the time of the attack, said it has left him nervous and infuriated.

On the day of the incident, Walters had been travelling on a bus through Maidstone.

He thought the route would take him home and became abusive to Mr De Barros when it instead terminated in Enterprise Road.

The father-of-two, of Hartnup Road, said he offered Walters a free lift to a station which would provide the service he needed.

But despite his kind gesture, the 18-year-old continued to argue and shot ball bearings at the bus.

Mr De Barros, originally from Portugal, added: "I walked outside the bus to look at the damage he caused, and as soon as I looked at him he was pointing the catapult at me. I had no time to react.

"It was terrifying. I was so scared and it was very painful."

Two by-standers called an ambulance and the 33-year-old was taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury.

However, he was told he would need to make his own way to a specialist unit in East Grinstead the next day, as staff at the Kent hospital couldn't remove the large, steel ball.

He said: "I had to go home and try and sleep with the ball bearing still in my face. I didn't sleep much at all. It was incredibly painful.

"When they removed it at the hospital the next day it was not very pleasant. They did a very good job though, I only have a small scar."

Returning to work was an extremely nerve-wracking experience for the Maidstone man, who has been a bus driver for 10 years.

He added: "I didn't want to go back to work but I really had to, I have a young family and the money I was getting paid while off sick was not enough to support them. I have been given a log book to make sure I write any more incidents down, but to be honest if anyone argues with me now I will leave the job there and then.

"I can't deal with things like that anymore. My attitude is completely different. I used to enjoy my job, but now I don't.

"I wish I hadn't offered to help the young man. I wanted to go public to show people that when you try to be helpful this is how you are repaid."

Mr De Barros, who has recovered from his injuries, admitted he is looking for a new job as a result of the attack, which left him with scarring to his face and harrowing memories.

Walters, of Oaktree Avenue, was jailed for six years.