TRANSPORT police launched a major operation this week after reports of children as young as 11 wreaking havoc on the town's railway tracks.

The police operation aims to crack down on youngsters vandalising, trespassing and damaging property on the rail tracks running into Darlington during the half-term school holidays.

The number of incidents has risen dramatically in recent years, particularly in the Darlington and Stockton areas during the school holidays.

Police say teenagers between 11 and 14 years old are regularly seen throwing stones and other heavy objects at trains and leaving supermarket trolleys, bricks and steel manhole covers on the tracks in the path of oncoming trains.

Gangs of youths also congregate on the tracks and in railway stations.

Police said groups of youths loitering in train stations was not only intimidating to passengers but could also be dangerous, particularly in the areas where high-speed trains operate.

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

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

"Fortunately in recent cases there has been no severe damage done to the trains, but it is only a matter of time before a serious incident occurs if something is not done."

Sgt Ashworth appealed to parents to warn their youngsters of the dangers of playing on railway lines.

He said: "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."

The police campaign aims to reduce train track crime through targeting specific locations with CCTV 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 over 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 also have fatal consequences."