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British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for information after stones were deliberately used to jam railway track points open on a freight line in Cornwall.

Fortunately, the driver of an approaching freight train spotted the points were not set as they should be and stopped the train ahead of reaching the points.

On investigating, the driver saw that a number of stones had been placed between the points, wedging them open and effectively creating a gap in the rails which would have caused a train to derail if it passed over that section of track.

The incident happened at about 11am on Thursday, 7 March 2013, at Moorswater near Liskeard. The train involved was the 0635hrs Westbury ^ Moorswater cement train.

BTP was informed and an investigation launched. Detective Constable Dave Bailey said: ^Fortunately, the driver was travelling at low speed, spotted the danger and was able to stop his train.

^However, this irresponsible act could easily have caused a train to derail, and could have caused damage to the train and the rail infrastructure.

^This was a reckless act of vandalism and I would appeal to anyone with information which could assist us in finding those responsible to contact us. Did you see anyone acting suspiciously in the area of Moorswater freight yard, or nearby on the morning of Thursday, 7 March?^

If you have information about the incident ^ or those responsible ^ please contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

In all calls please quote incident reference B4/WWA of 15/03/13.