Staircase thrown on railway line at Tapton Junction
A train narrowly avoided being derailed after vandals threw a section of a wooden staircase onto a railway line in Derbyshire.
The steps were thrown onto the track near to Tapton Junction, between Dronfield and Chesterfield.
A train travelling at 90mph struck the staircase while passing through the area at 2051 BST on Saturday.
The train suffered minor damage and was able to continue to the next station to be examined. No-one was injured.
Lives put at risk
Sgt Roy McMichael, from British Transport Police, said: "We believe that someone may have thrown the steps on the tracks from a road bridge.
"We urge those who think that throwing objects onto railway lines is fun or a game, to consider the consequences of their actions, which could have been much worse.
"The speed the train struck the steps could have easily resulted in a derailment, passengers and rail staff could have been easily injured or even worse killed as a result of such stupidity."
He appealed for any witnesses or anyone with further information to come forward.