RAILTRACK successor Network Rail was criticised last night for failing to deal with another example of trackside rubbish.

The company admitted there had been a breakdown in the investigation of a complaint surrounding rubbish left next to a busy passenger line which serves Teesside Airport.

Reporters yesterday found wooden pallets, old containers, disused concrete supports and a sign at the site only yards from the track.

Gamekeeper Brian Pavey had reported the problem more than three weeks ago, fearing children could use the rubbish to derail a train.

Mr Pavey said his complaint had been passed to Network Rail contractor Jarvis, which is responsible for railway maintenance in the North-East.

He said: "I am still waiting to get a response as nobody has been in touch yet. It is a disgrace."

The Northern Echo highlighted the problem last year after recording dozens of instances of sections of old track and other rubbish next to the East Coast Mainline.

Railtrack was fined £10,000 by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after taking too long to remove debris on the approach to Darlington's Bank Top station.

Last night, Ernie Preston, secretary of the North-East Rail Passengers Committee, said: "The industry takes this problem seriously but I am not convinced what they have actually done to improve things.

"This stuff should be shifted right now, not later. It should be absolute top priority.

"It is just not good enough to leave stuff lying around as potential ammunition used to endanger train crews and passengers."

There were 149 accidents, including three derailments, in 2001 and last year involving trains which ran into obstructions deliberately placed on the tracks.

The HSE issued 16 improvement notices on Railtrack during the same period to remove rubbish.

A Network Rail spokeswoman said there had been a "breakdown in the chain of instruction" leading to the investigation of Mr Pavey's complaint.

She said the company would be instructing Jarvis to investigate the complaint afresh and carry out any necessary clearance work.

HSE spokesman Mark Wheeler said the railway industry was working hard to address the problem of rubbish, but acknowledged that it remained a "huge task".

He said: "The Railways Inspectorate is monitoring progress on this and will take action to deal with situations where agreed standards are not being met."