YOUNG vandals who have tried to block a major rail line in Newport for three days this week could cause a train disaster, transport police are warning.

And they say the youths who are carrying out the attacks on the rail service are themselves dicing with death.

British Transport Police were last night investigating the THIRD incident this week reported by train drivers passing through Caerleon.

The line is the main South Wales route to Crewe and the North of England and police fear that if drivers miss the debris, including bricks, and fail to drive through it there could be a major disaster.

The Caerleon incidents come as 15 youngsters were caught trespassing on the Valley rail line in Bassaleg, another South Wales rail-danger blackspot.

"The obstructions at Caerleon are believed to have been placed by children," said Inspector Barry Dalby, of the BTP, pictured.

"We have a serious problem to address here before we have someone killed or a train is derailed or crashes."

He said while trespass was usually committed when people put their lives in danger by taking a short cut, vandalism by trespassers - almost always young people - was of deeper concern.

"Placing obstructions on the line threatens more people than just one individual," he said.

"God forbid that we should have a major incident here but we have to find out who is doing this and put a stop to it.

"You have to remember that a train travelling at between 50 and 60mph takes half a mile to stop.

"In each of the Caerleon incidents the driver has managed to spot the obstruction and remove it. But the last thing he wants to see when driving at speed is a pile of debris which has obviously been placed on the track.

"We need help in finding those responsible. People should remember they could be travelling on these trains."

Police believe they have reduced problems at a third Newport trouble spot - on the main South-Wales Paddington line in the Lliswerry area. Six-foot fences have been built alongside the track, though it has been known for trespassers to breach them.