PATROLS will be increased following a spate of vandalism on the Steam Railway line in Douglas.

Scaffolding poles and a wheelbarrow were left on the tracks near Hills Meadow industrial estate while young children have been spotted throwing stones at moving trains.

Ward Manager of St George’s Ward, PC Christie Morgan said: "Safety is paramount and these incidents are of great concern to us and Isle of Man Public Transport.

"We know the stone throwing incident was young children because they were seen by train drivers and we want to give warning that patrols in the area will be increased and appropriate action taken against anyone caught committing acts of vandalism."

This week there will be an increase in visitors and local enthusiasts on the railway when the Island hosts a series of special events for the Manx Heritage Transport Festival.

Public transport chief engineer Peter Maddocks said: "The railway is a very dangerous place and people should not assume that just because a train is travelling slowly that it wouldn’t cause serious injury if suddenly brought to a halt.

"A full train weighs up to 150 tonnes. They have a basic Victorian braking system so people should not under estimate how long it takes to stop.

"Unfortunately, we frequently see trespassers on the lines, using it as a pathway or taking a short cut, which is dangerous and against the law, so we welcome the police action. The safety of children and trespassers is of great concern as well as the risk of injury to our passengers and staff."

People convicted of trespassing on the railway could be fined up to £2,500 under the Passenger Transport Act 1982 while incidents of stone throwing or leaving debris on the lines would be considered criminal damage.

Investigating officer PC Rob Lewis added: "Fortunately the recent incident of dumping scaffolding on the line was spotted by an observant driver who was able to stop in time.

"The concern is the potential injury to drivers and passengers if this illegal activity continues and the train is brought to a sudden stop.

"With the school holidays about to start, we are appealing to parents to ensure they know where their children are playing. We also ask people to report any suspicious activity or trespassing on railway lines to police."

The police can be contacted on 631212. In an emergency call 999.

Alternatively any criminal activity can be reported anonymously to Isle of Man Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.