POLICE today launched a summer holiday crackdown on railway vandals after a train driver was injured when a brick smashed through his cab window.

The incident happened at 7pm yesterday close to Daisyfield, Blackburn, when a brick was thrown at a Blackburn to Colne train.

The driver, who was slightly injured but covered in blood, caught a glimpse of someone in a red top running away as the brick came through the window.

He managed to bring the train safely to a halt, despite having shards of glass in his face and ear, and passengers were shunted to Accrington by another train and then transferred to it to continue their journey.

Now British Transport Police are appealing for any witnesses to ring their freephone number 0800 405040.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "There were delays to trains but more importantly this reckless act could have had more serious implications and the driver could have been more seriously injured."

The driver, who has not been named, was taken to hospital but released after treatment.

Last month transport police urged parents to warn their children of the dangers of playing near railway lines after youngsters had tried to move pieces of reinforced concrete from the side of the same stretch of track on to the line. East Lancashire has one of the worst records in the North West for railway vandalism and now Railtrack and transport police have joined forces to put a stop to it.

Railtrack has hired a helicopter, complete with heat-seeking equipment and night cameras, which will be manned by police officers to try to catch railway vandals in the act.

Inspector Stephen Ingham said: "Railways are dangerous places to play, they are not playgrounds and recently we have had a number of fatalities in the North West.

"Throwing things at trains or putting things on the line can put lives in danger, particularly if the train driver is injured as it puts passengers at risk.

"Apart from that, it causes a great deal of inconvenience for everyone as trains are delayed and then the rail companies unfairly get the blame for trains being late.

"From this morning Railtrack's helicopter will be in use.

"Our officers will be on the helicopter and we will also have officers in vehicles next to the railway lines looking out for any vandals or people trespassing on the lines.

"So as soon as an incident happens we can be there to catch those responsible as quickly as possible."

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