Fireworks were thrown at ScottishPower engineers from the window of a van.

They were targeted while repairing a fault at a substation in Greenock, Inverclyde, on Sunday.

One firework landed under their digger and another bounced away, leaving them unhurt.

ScottishPower said their lives could have been in danger if a firework had hit an exposed cable.

District manager Graham Campbell said: "No one should face the dangers of lit fireworks when carrying out their daily duties, never mind when attempting to repair the electricity network in our communities.

"Imagine if one of these explosives landed in our excavated site or hit a live power cable?

"The consequences for our two engineers or those nearby just don't bear thinking about."

ScottishPower said the incident delayed work to reconnect homes to the network in Greenock.

Police Scotland is investigating and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has criticised the perpetrators.

Group manager Mark Gallacher said: "This mindless act really does defy belief. It was irresponsible and reckless and had the potential to threaten the safety of the surrounding community.

"The people responsible are very lucky that there was no fire or injury to either themselves or the engineers."

He added: "Attending incidents like this also delays our attendance at more serious incidents where lives could be at stake and the people responsible should take that in and think about it very seriously."