Two police officers sheltering inside their patrol car in Crawley were subjected to an onslaught of snowballs thrown by dozens of teenagers, an internet video showed.

The mobile phone footage posted on YouTube captures a crowd of shouting youngsters surrounding a police vehicle and aiming fire in the town.

The car can be seen remaining stationary with the pair of officers inside, while its wipers attempt to brush the lobbed snow from the windscreen.

At one point during the video, a female voice is heard saying: "Boys, I actually think you better stop."

The car's wheels are then seen spinning in the snow as the vehicle is reversed and driven slowly away while some laughing youngsters continue to use it as a target.

Commenting on the footage, a Sussex Police spokesman said: "We have seen the video on YouTube which shows a police car being pelted with snowballs somewhere in Crawley six days ago on December 18. The incident appears to be harmless fun."