NORTH-EAST football stars have thrown their weight behind a railway safety campaign.

Middlebrough's 19-year-old Lee Cattermole, whose goal against Fulham on Saturday gave Boro their first win of the season, is visiting Network Rail's No Messin' activities day in Middlesbrough, today.

Club colleague Jonathan Woodgate yesterday helped launch two days of No Messin' activities at the town's Acklam Grange School, organised to inspire youngsters about positive ways of spending their time - rather than risk death, playing on the railway lines.

There were more than 30 reported incidents involving trespass and vandalism on the tracks around Middlesbrough during the past year.

And there is evidence that young people are also going on to the tracks to steal cable and other trackside equipment.

Neil Henry, area general manager for Network Rail, said: "Middlesbrough is a hotspot for rail crime, so it is important that young people are aware of the dangers of hanging around or playing on the railway. Many of these people who use the railway as a playground do so because they think they have nothing else to do.

"No Messin' Live! aims to get young people interested in different activities and encourages them to try something new. By doing so, we hope to make them think twice about playing on the railway, and avoiding potentially life-threatening situations."

Rail chiefs have organised more than 15 free activities including basketball, wrestling, boxing, football, steel drums, urban dance and motorbikes.

The free event, at Acklam Grange School, from 10am to 4pm, is aimed at people aged between seven and 16.

Twelve No Messin' Live! events are taking place throughout the summer holidays across the UK.

Network Rail has a team of dedicated railway crime education managers working closely with other parts of the railway industry, offering railway safety information and visiting schools, young offending teams, youth clubs and local authorities throughout the UK.

Olympic medal-winning boxer Amir Khan who launched the No Messin' campaign on July 24, in London, said: "There is no excuse for mucking about on train tracks. You may think you are clever and fast but a train is quicker and what is clever about getting yourself killed?'