NETWORK Rail (NR) has warned youngsters in the region not to make railway tracks their final destination this half term.

The North-East continues to be a trouble spot for trespassing and vandalism on railways, incidents of which traditionally increase during school holidays.

NR says Darlington is the number one location in the North-East and Yorkshire for such crime, with Shildon and Durham the fourth and fifth worst respectively.

Neil Henry, route director for Network Rail, said: "Sadly the combination of good weather and school holidays always results in an increase of trespass and vandalism on the railways by young people.

"What they must realise is that their actions are not only illegal, but could prove fatal. We all remember feeling young and invincible but the danger posed to trespassers on the railway is a real one.

"At Network Rail we do all we can to prevent incidents, from improving fencing to having a team of rail crime education managers who work with the community to raise awareness.

"I would ask that parents remind their children of the dangers they could be placing themselves in."

NR's No Messin' campaign, run in conjunction with The Northern Echo, aims to divert youngsters from anti-social behaviour on the railways by getting them involved in healthy, safe activities.

A recent example of this included establishing a wrestling club at Eastbourne School, Darlington, for children.