A SOLDIER is due to appear in court tomorrow charged with breaking into a railway signal box and changing trackside lights to green.

Paul Jarvis, 18, of Barnaby Close, New Marske, east Cleveland, was arrested by British Transport Police on Friday in Norwich, where he is stationed.

He will appear before Teesside magistrates charged with carrying out an unlawful act with intent to obstruct the railway, an offence which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The Longbeck signal box in Marske was broken into on January 20 and signals on the track were switched to green between Saltburn and Redcar East.

The box, which is on the line between Saltburn and Redcar, was unattended at the time. No trains were running at the time.