BRITISH Transport Police have issued an image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with a signalling failure in the Darlington area.

A railway cable was placed across the tracks near the Maidendale Junction in the Geneva Road area of town in an attempt to cut and steal it at around 2.20pm on March 26.

PC Jason Youdale said: “The cable was pulled out of railway troughing and placed across the tracks. As it was pulled out it caused signalling failure in the area.

“We have had five similar offences in the area over the last six weeks involving cable being pulled out and placed across the tracks so it could be cut by passing trains and stolen.

“This has had a huge affect on services in the area recently which has resulted in delays to travelling passengers.

"The theft or attempted theft of cable is not just an attack on the railway – it has a direct impact on the day-to-day lives of thousands of passengers."

Officers have now released the image of a man captured on a covert camera placed in the area.

PC Youdale added: “Thieves beware, we use a range of tactics including covert cameras and patrols, and are catching and convicting more cable thieves than ever before.

“If you are the man pictured, or if you recognise him, please contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 quoting PSUB/ B10 of 16/4/2015.