RAIL staff will soon face random drink and drug testing.

First North Western has extended its zero tolerance policy for drivers and other front-line staff to everyone who works for the company in a bid to increase safety.

Now all employees, including platform workers, ticket collectors and timetable schedulers, will face checks as part of a crackdown by transport bosses who want to reassure travellers that those in charge are sober.

Two big bus companies in the North-west, First and Stagecoach, already enforce a policy of random alcohol testing of their workers, including office staff, as does Virgin Trains.

First, which operates most of Bolton's bus services, tests one in 10 employees each week. Staff are also able to breathalyse themselves before starting work if they feel they may be over the limit from the previous night.

Firth North Western runs the majority of train services through the Bolton area.

RANDOM drink and drug testing will soon take place on all of a train operator's staff.