A NORTH East train operator is spearheading the fight against railway crime.

In a pioneering move, Northern has launched a web site dedicated to educating young people about their behaviour on the rail network.

It is the first train operating company in the country to develop such a facility.

It comes in the wake of a rail line tragedy in which two Darlington teenagers were killed.

The Northern Teaching Zone is a site which gives young people, parents and teachers the tools to learn about how to stay safe on the railways.

Created in partnership with a rail education group and web designers, it features links to fact sheets - including a code of conduct for pupils using trains.

The site also has information about the jobs that enable trains to run, such as drivers, conductors and station staff.

Northern's managing director Heidi Mottram said: "We work very hard at educating young people about the dangers of railway crime.

"We don't tolerate criminal acts at our stations or against our staff and it is important that people understand from a young age how crucial it is to stay safe on the railways."

The site has been given the seal of approval by British Transport Police, who face a daily battle against railway crime.

Just last week, officers from the force in Darlington said people trespassed on local rail lines almost on a daily basis.

They spoke out after Stuart Adams and Lee Mullis died when they were hit by a train while playing on the line just outside Darlington.

It was revealed that the town had been among the 30 worst places for trespassing four times in the last five years.

PC Stephen Wareing, schools liaison officer, said: "Any resource that helps schools and parents reiterate the importance of railway safety to children helps us in our work.

"We regularly deal with incidents involving children and young people where they have been injured or at worst killed because of careless behaviour on the railways.

"We fully support the work Northern is doing to reduce this type of crime."

Northern works closely with BTP and has a dedicated liaison officer who makes regular visits to schools across the network.

The web site address is www.teachingzone.org/northern.