DETECTIVES investigating the theft of two miles of track from a disused railway line hope to make progress hunting remaining gang members in the next 48 hours.

Thieves removed 300 tonnes of steel track from the mothballed Leamside line, at Penshaw, between Chester-le-Street and Sunderland, posing as rail workers during several days last week.

Track worth an estimated £250,000 was removed, intended for sale as scrap.

But after a tip-off, British Transport Police arrested three men, caught in the act lifting lengths of track, last Thursday.

Further inquiries led to the arrest of the alleged supervisor the following day in Sheffield.

All four have been granted bail by police pending further inquiries.

Transport police recovered much of the steel and equipment at the scene and from a trailer.

They have since carried out inquiries in the Penshaw area.

Last night they were following up a number of leads in the hunt for up to six other men involved in the operation.

Detective Sergeant Alan Darlington said: "We should make some progress in the next 48 hours or so.

"We've got a number of encouraging leads to look at, including calls from members of the public who saw a lot of men working on the line and thought it was a legitimate operation.

"I've dealt with the theft of track before, but nothing on this scale."

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on (0800) 405040.