THE world's largest flash mob event is said to have occurred in Mexico City on what would have been the late Michael Jackson's 51st birthday when more than 12,000 people gathered to dance to his hit 'Thriller'.

Maybe the organiser of a flash mob centered on one of Britain's most under-used railway stations was anticipating a similar response - as even they didn't bother to turn up.

As it was, on a gloomy Saturday morning, just six people appeared on the rather short platform of the halt at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

To make matters worse, their expected train broke down on arrival, leaving them stranded in the wind and rain for more than an hour.

The event, promoted via the Internet and social networking sites, was intended to draw attention to the miserly amount of trains using the station, which has recorded less than 100 passengers in each of the last six years.

Nevertheless, the plucky group decided to continue its course of action, but was dealt a further blow when the 10.28am to Middlesbrough - one of just four trains stopping at the station every week - failed to materialise.

Maureen Rigg, 65, of Eaglescliffe, said: "I had a message on Facebook about the flash mob idea. I always thought it was silly that if I wanted to get a train to the airport I had to make sure I booked a Saturday afternoon flight, so I thought it was a good way to give this some publicity.

"At the moment we are standing in the cold and wet and it is somewhat disappointing."

Liberal Democrat councillor John Fletcher, of Stockton Borough Council, was another who made the effort.

The 65-year-old said he was not an experienced "flash-mobber" but had wanted to raise awareness of the issue.

He said: "Apart from the press there are only five and half people here, the half being my half fare."

Just to compound matters, all of the participants had been given a lift to the station, meaning they could not simply turn around and go home.

They had to wait until 11.45am when the train finally arrived, having overcome its technical issues.

Speaking from home later in the day, Mrs Rigg said: "The train eventually arrived and we were successful in getting home to Eaglescliffe."

The organiser of the event is understood not to have turned up, and was unavailable for comment over the weekend.

Flash mob factfile

• A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse.

• An estimated 4,000 people created a “silent disco” on London Underground trains in April 2006. Participants gathered at Victoria Station, each dancing to their own portable music device, headphones attached.

• Nearly 14,000 people gathered in Mexico on what would have been singer Michael Jackson’s 51st birthday to perform his Thriller dance in the streets. It is thought to be the biggest-ever flash mob.

• A pillow fight flash mob took place in March 2008 across 25 cities around the globe. About 5,000 gathered in New York City alone.

• A flash mob of 5,000 garden gnomes gathered in Manchester city centre last year. Shoppers were bemused by the sudden appearance of the gnomes, which were placed to promote an animated film.

• Attempts have been made by the authorities to control flash mobs, with several UK events cancelled because of health and safety concerns, and others halted after warnings from the police.