A HUNT is on to find vandals who tried to derail a train at Brotton last week.

Three sleepers were dragged on to a railway track, but a driver saw the obstruction in time to stop his freight train before it could hit the blocks.

British Transport Police said while there were no injuries there could have been serious consequences.

"This type of incident has serious, possibly life-threatening implications, as has been seen recently in other parts of the country," said Sgt Nigel Ashworth.

"Anything which causes a train to derail can result in death and serious injury."

Sgt Ashworth warned: "Anybody caught carrying out this type of activity can face a prison term of life imprisonment."

Officers said the line was blocked at mid-morning last Friday. The sleepers were manhandled into position across the rails adjacent to Coach Road, Brotton.

The train driver had been hauling hundreds of tons of potash from the Boulby mine to Thornaby.

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