Police today issued an urgent warning to children who play near railway lines after two trains were pelted with missiles near Wickford.

The First Great Eastern trains were hit with stones, smashing windows and forcing one out of service for repairs.

Today a spokesman for British Transport Police - who are investigating Thursday's attacks - said the dangers of such vandalism "are obvious to anyone with half a brain".

While one train was able to complete its journey, more than 100 passengers faced disruption after the other was taken out of service.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "This sort of act is dangerous to drivers, passengers and, this close to the tracks, dangerous to the vandals themselves."

Published Monday August 19, 2002

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