YOUNG vandals are to be targeted over the Easter holidays in an attempt to crack down on railway crime in some of the North-East's worst blackspots.

The body responsible for the running of Britain's railways, Network Rail, said action aimed at preventing vandals from wreaking havoc on railway lines was to be stepped up in the next few weeks.

It says youngsters in particular are putting their lives at risk, while the cost of railway crime is up to £150m a year.

Network Rail has identified the top ten worst-hit areas across the London North Eastern Region, which takes in the North-East.

In the past 12 months the Darlington and Stockton areas came top, with 35 reported offences of malicious acts - including objects being thrown at trains and obstructions placed on the track - and trespass.

Twenty offences during the past year have also been reported in the Durham area, putting it eighth in the top ten list.

A Network Rail spokeswoman said: "These are just reports, so the actual figures could be much higher."

Despite the North-East's bad reputation for railway crime, Richard Fenny, regional director of Network Rail, claimed the trend was actually decreasing, but the need to be vigilant remained.

He said: "The downward trend is very encouraging and shows that our industry's effort to highlight the dangers and consequences of railway crime is making a very real impression throughout the London North Eastern Region. However we cannot afford to be complacent."

"The cost of railway crime is enormous, both in terms of train delays and damage to trains and infrastructure.

"But it is the threat to the lives and safety of passengers and railway staff that is the main cause for concern."

The British Transport Police records 6,500 offences on the national network each year.

There is a crime on the network every four-and-a-half minutes, with young people the biggest offenders.

Motorcycle patrols have been set up to focus on places where vandalism is rife and mobile CCTV is also operating in an attempt to record the faces of criminals.

To report a railway crime, call free on 0800 40 50 40 or ring the Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.