FOUR people were arrested in the North-East yesterday as the police had a region-wide crackdown on metal theft from railways.

Since April last year, there have 979 such cases reported in the region - more than two a day.

Yesterday, the British Transport Police used patrols, sniffer dogs, undercover officers, automatic number plate recognition, and off-road bikes in the North-East in an effort to cut the crime.

Metal theft, particularly copper cable, is becoming more common due to rising values, fuelled by increased demand in India and China. Police concentrated on the area around Hartlepool - a known metal-theft hotspot - South Tyneside, Wearside and Northumberland.

Three arrests were made in Morpeth, in Northumberland, one in Gateshead, and information was gathered across the region. Officers also visited scrap yards to check books, help owners identify stolen cable, and remind them the danger of handling stolen goods.

The force said copper theft was one of their biggest problems, after terrorism.

In May, rail police bosses from across Europe met in Venice to discuss global solutions to cutting the crime. Yesterday's day of action, which took place across Europe, was the result.

Detective Superintendent Ashley Croft said: "We are delighted this day of action has delivered significant results. As well as the arrests, we have also gathered valuable intelligence we will now act on."

Detective Chief Inspector Danny Snee said: "After the threat of terrorism, the theft of cable is one of our biggest challenges. Those who steal cables are not just risking a prison sentence, they are risking their lives.

"It is an extremely dangerous crime, which is costly to the rail industry and causes hours of delay to thousands of passengers."

Dyan Crowther, from Network Rail, said: "Our failsafe system means any cut cable turns all signals in the area to red and brings all nearby trains to a halt.

"Passengers are not put at risk, but they are massively inconvenienced by the delays it causes. I would ask anyone who sees people acting suspiciously around the railways to report it immediately."

Anyone with information is asked to call transport police, in confidence, on 0800-405040.

In March, a similar crackdown saw three people arrested for cable theft in the Cliff House area, near Hartlepool, and two arrested after being stopped in a van in Ullswater Road, Hartlepool, containing stolen cable.