CAMERAS will be put on trains travelling through Bolton to catch vandals in the act.

Four stations in the town have been hit by vandalism and one - Moses Gate - is among the 20 worst hot-spots in the North-west.

Trains have been pelted with stones and items left on the track while stations have also been targeted by yobs.

Railtrack says trespassing on the track is also a particular problem.

Dozens of cameras are being used throughout the North-west to identify troublemakers as the rail industry turns the spotlight on crime during the school summer holiday.

Bolton, Farnworth, Moses Gate and Bromley Cross stations have all been the targets of vandalism and trespass in the last year and all will be included in the scheme. Railtrack will have staff armed with video and stills cameras in hte passenger compartments and sitting up front with the drivers so they can catch the action as it happens.

They will ride on trains in known trouble spots so they can capture on film louts throwing stones or putting objects on the line.

Passenger trains will also have keyhole cameras to film vandals wrecking the insides of carriages.

The film will then be taken to schools where teachers will be asked to identify culprits.

A Railtrack spokesman said: "The whole point of the campaign is to identify young vandals and trespassers in the act.

"When schools return after the holidays, we can arrange meetings with the teachers and get the safety message across."

All Bolton schools close to railway stations will be visited as part of the plan.

The spokesman added: "The amount of railway crime always escalates in the summer. The days are long and children quickly become bored. It is then that they take it out on the railway and their foolhardiness can mean delays and damage to trains, and injury to staff and passengers as well as themselves." It is not only the physical risk to passengers, staff and the vandals themselves that concerns Railtrack. Statistics show there is a one in 20 chance a delayed train has been held up by an act of vandalism.

Insp Michael Sutton of the British Transport Police said: "We work in partnership with Railtrack to reduce trespass and vandalism. It affects people's journeys to and from work and it is important that the railway infrastructure be allowed to perform the way it should do."

Anyone with information on acts of vandalism should contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040. FACTFILE:

Between July 2000 and July 2001 the following railway stations in the Bolton area suffered damage:

Bolton: Five incidents of vandalism, seven of trespass.

Incidents included youths throwing stones at passing trains, causing dangerous risks to the driver and passengers.

Bromley Cross: Two incidents of vandalism.

Incidents included signal boxes being smashed and wooden decking being removed from the footbridge.

Farnworth: Seven incidents of vandalism.

Incidents included trains being struck by objects and objects being placed on the line, causing a risk of de-railing trains.

Moses Gate: Eight incidents of vandalism and seven of trespass. Anyone with information can contact BTP on 0800 405040.