Cable thieves stop rail services

Train services linking Wearside and Teesside were suspended for a time after thieves stole signal cables.

Northern Rail was forced to bring in buses after the theft at Greatham, near Hartlepool, on Monday.

Some services between Sunderland and Middlesbrough were cancelled to allow Network Rail engineers to carry out repairs and replace copper cables.

A Northern Rail spokeswoman condemned the action of vandals. Services were disrupted for about three hours.