THUGS are putting lives of rail passengers in jeopardy as they continue to wreak havoc on a line.

In the latest incident, stones were placed between line points at Gannow Junction, Burnley.

British Transport Police say the stones could derail trains on the line to Colne and West Yorkshire.

PC Keith Holmes said: "The stones are deliberately being placed where the line splits. "The train could easily derail and we could have a disaster on our hands."

Luckily, no damage was done this time, but officers say it is the third incident on the Rose Grove to Burnley line.

Now patrols are to be stepped up in the area in a bid to catch the culprits.

PC Holmes added: "The line is near a residential area with a lot of juveniles so we do suspect this is kids.

"We have regular patrols but we will be concentrating on this area more now.

"Our message to them is to stay off the line. It's a very serious offence and if they did cause the death of train passengers they could be looking at a life sentence."

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