A heritage railway station has been forced to switch-on to modern technology - a victim of 21st century crime.

Oakworth railway station, lit by oil and gas for the past 135 years, has gone electric.

The reluctant decision to join the national grid follows a spate of vandalism and theft at the historic station on the Keighley & Worth Valley line.

And now bosses are preparing to wire it up to closed circuit television, in a bid to deter and catch the criminals.

The station was opened in 1867 and has relied on 19th century technology - oil lamps, gas mantles and coal fires - ever since.

But visitors to the station, which featured in the 1970 classic film The Railway Children, will not be able to detect the change, said Jim Shipley, a K&WVR administrative assistant.

"Everything has been done discreetly. There are no modern 13 amp sockets in skirting boards or other obvious electrical equipment. It has been hidden away.

"The visitor won't realise the change - the old lamps and coal fires will still be used.

"But there has been a spate of thefts and vandalism and rather than sit back and cry into our beer, we are doing something positive."

Among the items taken were a valuable Victorian station clock stolen from the station building and period signs taken from the perimeter fence.

Some of the old gas lamps have also been damaged by vandals.

Other stations along the five mile line, between Keighley and Oxenhope, have also been targeted by thieves and vandals. Recently stone slabs were stolen from Ingrow station yard.

Mr Shipley said that despite the introduction of modern technology, many members would continue to stick to 19th century ways.

"Some people will still use hand tools and the old fashioned ways just for the sake of it," he added.

Eventually it is hoped to wire up and install CCTV at other stations.