RAIL passengers have been urged to help the search for an alleged phone thief on a main line service waiting at a North- East station.

British Transport Police (BTP) are appealing for information after a man, who accidentally left his mobile phone on a train at Newcastle Central Station, returned to find it stolen.

Investigators have released a CCTV image of a suspect they would like to identify in connection with the incident, on Wednesday, September 25.

The officer leading the investigation, PC Cheryl Bainbridge, said: “The victim, a 34-year-old man from Newcastle, had been travelling on the train from Durham. When he got up to leave the service he accidentally left his phone on the seat beside him.

“Realising his mistake, he quickly jumped back on the train to discover his phone had gone.

“After calling lost property at the station and speaking with staff at the station and on the train, he discovered his phone had been taken.”

Having reviewed CCTV coverage as part of their inquiry, the BTP has released an image of a man they would like to identify in connection with the theft.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0800- 405040.