LOCAL councillor Keith Deakin is uniting with British Transport Police and Railtrack to issue a warning to vandals who are dicing with death by spraying graffiti across one of the borough's few remaining historical sites.

The Nine Arches Viaduct at Newton-le-Willows has recently been targeted by the vandals who are defacing the structure built by famous 19th-century engineering pioneer George Stephenson. And an angry Councillor Deakin, who represents Newton West ward, has hit out at the culprits. He said: "This is one of the last few remaining historical landmarks and these hooligans are doing their best to completely deface it. "But not only are they ruining one of the finest examples of 19th-century engineering - it was the first passenger railway bridge, which crossed the first canal - but they are risking life and limb by hanging over the bridge 90ft above the ground. In my opinion, these people and their families should be held accountable for the graffiti and the clean-up of the viaduct, which could cost thousands of pounds."

Sgt. Ged Hindley of the British Transport Police, added: "These vandals are not only putting their lives at danger, they are also trespassing and could face a hefty fine. Railways are dangerous and the vandals at Nine Arches risk falling from the top of the viaduct, or being hit by a train."

A spokesman for Railtrack commented: "Railways aren't playgrounds and to treat them as such is absolutely stupid. These people are putting their own lives, and the lives of other people, at risk."

Railtrack have sent an inspector out to the site and the spokesman continued: "We will be seeking to prosecute offenders defacing the Nine Arches Viaduct, in conjunction with the British Transport Police.

"And we appeal to anyone who can identify the culprits to contact the emergency Railwatch hot-line on 0800 405040."

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