Metro service suspended after cable theft

Cable thieves have struck on the Tyne and Wear Metro, causing trains to be cancelled and leaving passengers facing delays.

Operator Nexus said the service was suspended on Thursday morning between Monument station, in Newcastle, and South Shields and South Hylton.

Trains have since resumed after engineers replaced the stolen cable which powered the Metro's signalling equipment.

Nexus infrastructure director Stuart Clarke said the theft occurred in the early hours in the Felling area of Gateshead.

"Cable theft causes disruption for the travelling public," he said.

"It is dangerous to tamper with trackside equipment, which has high voltage power running through it, and the thieves risk their lives by doing this."

Nexus said it had reported the offence to the police.

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