A HELICOPTER with a powerful on-board camera is to target a stretch of railway line in Furness in a bid to clampdown on crime.

The helicopter is flying over the line between Barrow and Dalton and the camera will capture anyone spotted vandalising the railway, or throwing missiles at a train. Other "hotspots" throughout the North West are also to come under the camera's gaze during the Easter holidays in the joint British Transport Police and Network Rail operation. Keith Lumley for Network Rail, said that problems in the Dalton area in recent months included pieces of concrete or other debris being left on the line and objects being thrown through train windows.

April 17, 2003 16:30