TRANSPORT police are pleased with efforts to crack down on railway trespass over the summer holidays.

The region was said to be one of the worst in the country for so-called routine crime in figures released earlier this year by Network Rail.

But police said the picture has now improved.

From July 19 to the beginning of this week, British Transport Police recorded no serious incidents in the areas covered by their Newcastle, Darlington and Middlesbrough offices, which cover from Thirsk to Berwick.

Sergeant Mick Turnbull, based in the BTP's Darlington office, said there had been ten undetected reports of trespass and the "odd stone throwing incident".

"We are quite pleased with these results, particularly considering the fine weather we have had over the school holidays," he said