Rail bosses are warning Bradford customers they could face prosecution if its staff continue to be abused.

Northern Spirit claims a number of its workers have been subjected to verbal and physical abuse by people using the service over recent months.

A poster campaign, put up at stations across the district, including Bradford Interchange and New Pudsey, states the company will not tolerate such behaviour and is urging witnesses of any such incidents to come forward.

Howard Keal, spokesman for Northern Spirit, said: "We want to make people aware that if it does occur then we will not hesitate to take it through the courts."

He said the number of incidents were small compared to the number of people that use Northern Spirit services every day.

But he added: "Any number of cases is more than we are prepared to put up with.

"With the massive improvement scheme being carried out by Railtrack at Leeds there has been a period when performance has suffered but that is in no sense an excuse to take any problems out on staff."

In February a train travelling from Bradford to Skipton was delayed for half an hour at Shipley when a drunken passenger repeatedly swore at staff and passengers.

Inspector Graham Batcheler, of British Transport Police, agreed: "People who go around doing their jobs should not be assaulted. I don't think we are dealing with an epidemic but one assault is one assault too many.

"We will try to prosecute for any assault on a member of staff. Northern Spirit of course feel the same way. People should take the full brunt of the law."

Stan Herschel, of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union, said this was a policy fully supported by the union.

"We worked together with Northern Spirit to adopt a zero tolerance policy.

"Any form of abuse we would jointly pursue and recommend a prosecution.

"This policy is one we are hoping all rail companies will adopt."

Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040.

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