TRANSPORT police in Stockton are launching a major operation after reports of children as young as 11 wreaking havoc on the town's railway tracks.

The police operation will crack down on youngsters vandalising, trespassing and damaging property on rail tracks during the half-term school holidays, next week.

The number of incidents has risen dramatically in recent years. They include children between 11 and 14 throwing stones at trains, leaving supermarket trolleys, bricks and manhole covers on the tracks, and congregating on the tracks and in railway stations.

Officers said that groups of youths loitering in train stations intimidated passengers and could be dangerous, particularly in those areas where high-speed trains run.

Sergeant Nigel Ashworth, of the British Transport Police, said the problem was particularly bad in the Darlington and Stockton areas and the operation would focus on known vandalism hotspots.

He said: "These not only put the youngsters' lives at risk, it also risks the welfare of train passengers."

He appealed to parents to warn their children of the dangers of playing on railway lines.

"Even if a child is going out with innocent intentions, it can quickly escalate into something more. I want to ask parents to warn their children there could be a serious accident if they trespass on railway tracks," he said.

The police campaign aims to reduce train track crime through targeting specific locations with security cameras and other tactics.

Sgt Mick Turnbull, who covers the Darlington area, said: "Our efforts will be concentrated in dealing robustly with any person found trespassing and damaging property. Nationally, more than 350 people are killed each year while trespassing. Stone throwing, the placing of objects on the railway line and other acts of wanton vandalism can have fatal consequences."