Incidents of railway trespassing and vandalism in Southend have doubled in the past year according to Railtrack figures.The news comes as a nationwide campaign is being launched in schools to educate children about the dangers of trespassing on railway lines.

Railtrack has issued figures it describes as "quite substantial", showing incidents of trespassing over the past four months in the Southend area.

Southend, Hockley, Prittlewell and Rochford stations have all reported vandalism incidents involving adults and juveniles.

In Prittlewell an 18-year-old was caught trespassing while filming trains on the track.

The second case involved a youth on the station roof who tried to climb onto overhead cables. A Railtrack spokesman described the news as "very worrying" and urged: "We need to teach children and adults that railway tracks are not playgrounds."

However, Sgt Nick Brook, of Southend British Transport Police, said it was difficult to compile accurate figures as police records only logged incidents ending in prosecution.

Sgt Brown said: "These figures are only the tip of the iceberg and are much lower than the real picture. Most incidents of trespassing and vandalism on our railway lines go undetected."

Last summer vital preventative measures were put in place.

Service trains ran on the tracks between London and Southend allowing transport police to keep a careful watch on the tracks.

A Railtrack helicopter aided security measures also as it circled the skies between Southend and London.

This year similar measures will again be implemented. A Railtrack spokesman said: "Summer is a key time for trespass and vandalism. Railway stations are often used as unofficial youth clubs by children with lots of spare holiday time and nothing else to do."

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