AN MP has again slammed rail chiefs over cuts to the Tees-Tyne service and hit out at the notices at local stations advertising them.

Ashok Kumar, MP for Middesbrough South and East Cleveland, said the Strategic Rail Authority had to be 'brought to heel' over its decision to reduce from 19 to four daily services between Saltburn, Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

Mr Kumar spoke out yesterday, the day that the cuts - due to be brought in from Monday - were formally advertised to passengers.

He said notices at stations did not give details of the trains to be cut, but merely said that nearly all trains would now terminate at Darlington, where many passengers will now have to change.

Dr Kumar said: "They suggest that passengers should pick up a copy of the new summer timetable from a ticket office at a nearby station - but in this area the only station that is constantly staffed is Middlesbrough, which is little help for people living in Saltburn.

"I will not let this matter rest. The rail authority must know that they are flying in the face of both Government policy and local opinion and must be brought to heel."

Rail chiefs say cutting the number of through trains on the link will free up space on the East Coast Mainline for high-speed services between Darlington and Newcastle.