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Bikes, wheelie bins and shopping trollies are among the dangerous items which have been left on railway tracks, an operator has said.

Northern said trains have struck or been hit by about 100 objects in the last year.

Bricks, fence panels, a garden gate and road signs were some of the items "deliberately" placed on the track, the company said.

It called for an end to the "senseless activity" that was putting passengers and staff at risk.

Northern runs services across the north of England, including Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, Merseyside, Teesside, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, as well as into parts of the Midlands.

The train operator said that while only 10 of the recorded incidents caused damage to carriages, each represented a risk to safety.

Matt Rice from Northern, said: "Our trains travel at high speed and any item on the track represents a risk to the train and the safety of everyone onboard.

"Whilst some items might end up on the tracks due to high winds or accidents – some are deliberately placed there by people with no regard for the safety of others."

He said: "We would appeal to anyone committing this senseless activity to stop – and remind them that it is a criminal offence to trespass on the railway."

The majority of Northern trains are now fitted with external CCTV cameras and footage can be viewed by British Transport Police.

Mr Rice urged anyone who witnessed items being put on the tracks to report it.

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