Police are hunting a teenager who attacked a train conductor with a machete.

The incident happened at around 8.15pm on Sunday as the Arriva train travelling from Middlesbrough to Saltburn arrived at Redcar East Station.

Two boys, thought to be around 15-years-old, got off the train with their bikes and then tried to go "surfing."

Sergeant Nigel Ashworth, from the British Transport Police based at Middlesbrough, explained that this is where people try and hitch a lift on the train by standing in the stairwell.

The conductor followed guidelines and stopped the train to explain the dangers to find himself face to face with a ten to twelve inch machete.

The quick thinking train conductor protected himself by grabbing one of the bikes to fend off the lad, who used took a couple of swipes at him.

He then managed to lock the doors and the train pulled away, although the youth used the machete to break the train door windows.

The conductor was not physically injured but is severely shocked as a result and is now off sick.

Police described the youths as five feet eight to five feet ten inches tall wearing dark clothing and one had a white baseball cap on.

One youth had a white BMX bike and the other bike, which is now in police possession, is a blue framed, yellow forked mountain bike with the name "Concept Bronx" on the cross bar, with front and rear suspension and 15 speed shimano gears.

Sgt Ashworth said it was a terrifying incident.

"This was a serious attack on a man who was only trying to do his job and in no way should he be expected to have to face an ordeal such as this. British Transport Police are investigating this serious incident and would urge any witnesses or indeed anyone who recognises the description of the bikes or the youths to contact us on freephone 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."

A spokeswoman for Arriva Trains Northern added: "We will not tolerate any acts of vandalism or abuse of our employees or customers and are working closely with British Transport Police to ensure that the youths are apprehended."

Redcar MP Vera Baird was appalled at the incident.

"I am delighted that the conductor was unharmed and I congratulate him on his quick thinking and to the boy, who I understand is only 15, I would say to him I don't know what is going on in your head but you should give yourself up to the police and you have had a lucky escape that he wasn't hurt," she said.

She added that she felt there should be an enquiry to find out how the boy came to be in possession of the weapon.

The law states that knives cannot be sold to under 16s.