YESTERDAY thousands of people were inconvenienced yet again when signalling cable was stolen from the railway line between Burnley and Hapton.

It is the third time in a month that train services in East Lancashire have been brought to a halt by metal thieves.

The action caused chaos, stopping all trains on the Northern Rail service between Blackburn and Colne for nine hours.

This time the offenders also risked their own lives to steal 20 metres of 650-volt signalling power cables.

In total, the thefts are set to cost Network Rail more than £1million as they pay for expensive repairs and compensation to the rail operating companies, who have lost business, as well as penalties for not having a working line.

Surely action has to be taken now to stop this happening again.

Network Rail says it is virtually impossible to police the whole line but is now looking at employing private security and setting up cctv along the line.

Police will also be visiting scrapyards in the area to see if the metal is being sold on to them.

All these steps need to be taken immediately because as things stand, it seems to be far too easy for criminals to go to the track and help themselves.

And when the culprits are found, tough action must also be taken to dissuade others from doing the same.