A TEENAGE vandal is being hunted after a train struck a barrel left on the line near Darwen this morning.
A member of the public first phoned the police at 6pm on Saturday to say they had seen a teenage boy putting a barrel on the line.
The barrel was removed, but some time over the weekend it was put back on the line and a train hit it at 6.27am today.
The incident happened at the Darwen side of Goose House Road.
The youth seen on Saturday was white, aged about 14, well-built, 5ft 4in tall, with blond hair. He was wearing an earring in his left ear and a white fluffy jacket. He is believed to live in the Goose House Road area.
Sergeant Paul Moores of British Transport Police said: "Children should be aware of the dangers of playing on railway lines anyway, but placing objects like a barrel on the line could cause a serious accident and lead to people being injured or even killed."
Anybody with any information can call British Transport Police on Freephone 0800 405040.
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