Warning after 'would-be Banksy' dodges 110mph trains to daub graffiti on Northamptonshire bridge

Police have issued a stern warning after a "wannabe Banksy" dodged 110mph hour trains and 25,000-volt electric cables to escape after being spotted graffitiing a bridge in Northamptonshire.

The man was seen painting a bridleway bridge near to the West Coast Main Line at Crick at around 12.15pm yesterday (Monday).

He ran into an adjacent field, climbed security fencing and dashed across the live railway track before fleeing through sidings close by.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: "The man, in his 30s, worse a blue checked lumberjack-style shirt, grey combat-style trousers and a black beanie hat. He was also carrying a lightweight drawstring bag.

"If you recognise the description of the man or know anyone who may use the image as a graffiti tag, please call us on 101."

Despite timetables being cut back during lockdown, around eight trains and hour speed through the stretch of line in each direction between Northampton and Rugby.

Network Rail has worked with British Transport Police on the uncompromising You vs Train campaign since 2018

Initially targeting young people and their parents, the campaign aims to educate on the devastating and wide-reaching consequences of trespass.

The campaign has proven to be a catalyst for positive behaviour change in young people, with youth trespass levels showing an encouraging decline of 30% in high priority locations. There were 153 such incidents between April 2019 and March last year, down from 217 the previous period.