These included stones, furniture and a wheelie bin being placed on the line to obstruct trains, a piece of timber hung by a rope from a bridge so it would collide with trains and even fireworks being thrown.

These were just some of the incidents revealed at a rail crime awareness day which was held at Aylesbury Station on Monday.

Aylesbury has the second highest incidence of rail crime in the county behind High Wycombe. The day was organised by Chiltern Railways to raise awareness of the dangers in a special day for youngsters.

It was held in conjunction with Network Rail who were on hand to offer advice, the British Transport Police and rugby union club Wasps.

Retired Marylebone train driver, Mike Benson who operated trains on the Aylesbury line for 13 years and has visited schools as part of the campaign said he has experienced six fatalities of adults and children during his time.

Martin Gallagher, Network Rail's national rail crime education manager, said: "The railway can be a dangerous place and those trespassing or taking short cuts across it are putting their lives at risk."

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