VANDALS who placed heavy sleepers across the rail line in Burnley could have caused tragedy, British Transport Police warned today.

Only swift action by the driver, who spotted the obstruction, saved the train from smashing into the sleepers and possible derailment.

He halted the train just yards from the point where the hooligans had struck, close to Elm Street, at 6.15pm on Wednesday.

Transport Police in Preston today blasted the culprits whom they claim could have caused serious injury or death if the train had left the tracks. And they said they were increasingly worried about the growing number of incidents on lines in East Lancashire.

A spokesman for British Transport Police, who is appealing for witnesses to the incident, said: "Luckily the driver managed to stop the train, but this prank could have caused serious damage or possible derailment, which then could have resulted in someone injured or even killed."

Two months ago vandals caused £16,000 damage to a train when it collided with a large object placed on the railway line after leaving Rosegrove station.

The impact smashed the engine sump but it managed to limp on at reduced speed to Preston.

Earlier, vandals left a heavy metal bar on the rail track and stoned a train at Nelson railway station.

And in November, hooligans hurled concrete slabs from a 100 ft viaduct on three consecutive nights - narrowly missing a security guard by inches near Burnley Central Station on one occasion.

At that time police warned: "This will end in death."

Anyone with information about the latest incident should call British Transport Police on 01772 253682.

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