VANDALS cut train signals, causing chaos for commuters.

British Transport Police (BTP) were called to an area near the Bakers Lane part of the line through Colchester shortly after 2pm yesterday.

Specialist cable theft investigators were drafted in to examine the section of cabling which had been cut.

None had been removed, but police believe the risk-taking perpetrators might have been hoping to sell the metal on.

Det Con Alan Reed of BTP, said: “Metal prices across the world are going up. That has made the rail industry a target.

“Cable theft is a national problem and is done by the technically-minded and less technically-minded people.

He said that no danger was posed to passengers in the incident as safety procedures alert rail staff to any faults.

“For the people themselves, they put themselves at extreme risk of a large electric shock, as well as passengers getting caught up.”

Scrap metal dealers were warned to be vigilant.

Commuters faced delays of up to 90 minutes last night.

Services were affected between Colchester and Marks Tey and a reduced service was running between Liverpool Street and Norwich.

A spokeswoman for National Express East Anglia said it was hoping to run three trains in each direction between 5pm and 7pm.

Anyone with information about the incident should call 0800 40 50 40.