IT'S a statistic which makes grim reading. Crime on some of East Lancashire's railways is among the highest in the North West - and it's something which endangers the lives of thousands of passengers each year.

In Burnley, Blackburn, Accrington and Darwen in the past year, transport authorities have recorded scores of incidents of "rail crime". But most worrying is the recording of almost 50 separate accounts of objects left on the tracks.

That's a potential for 50 train derailments.

The problem is particularly bad in Burnley, where Central station tops the league of shame when it comes to objects being thrown on to the track.

We have all seen the shocking images of trains which have left the tracks at Paddington and Potters Bar, and the death and devastation left in their wake. But still the British Transport Police and Network Rail are telling us that youngsters are looking to recreate these tragic events.

Sgt Steve Murtagh of British Transport Police has stressed just how serious the repercussions could be: "If anyone places anything on the track it can derail a train and is obviously very dangerous. You can have 500 passengers on a train so we are talking about thousands of people."

Given the volume of recorded incidents in this area, it is a near-miracle we have not suffered this fate.

This week the rail authorities will be in East Lancashire trying to get this worrying message home. But it is up to all of us to acknowledge the scope of the problem - and try to do our bit to make sure the young vandals behind it acknowledge it too.