ITEMS ranging from shopping trollies to traffic cones have been hit by trains on the region's rail network in the past year.

Northern, which runs services on the Airedale line, has revealed there were 97 incidents of trains striking objects recorded between October 2023 and last month.

The company says that while only ten of the incidents resulted in damage to carriages, each one represented a risk to people's safety.

Matt Rice, Northern's chief operating officer, said: "Our trains travel at high speed, and any item on the track represents a risk to the train and everyone onboard.

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

"Those people should know that the majority of our trains are now fitted with external CCTV cameras and that footage can be viewed by British Transport Police in real time.

"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."

Anyone who witnesses incidents should contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 405040.