Network Rail has chartered a helicopter as part of a campaign to tackle vandalism and stop youngsters playing on railway lines.

The Twin Squirrel chopper will tour vandalism hot spots, including Hampden Park in Eastbourne.

The helicopter will liaise with British Transport Police and take video footage from the air of trespass and vandalism.

In recent months in the Hampden Park and Polegate areas there have been incidents of stone throwing, vandalism and trespass, with children playing "chicken" by running across the electrified tracks.

Branches have also been deliberately placed on the track near Polegate, resulting in delays while the power is switched off and the lines cleared.

Crime costs Network Rail £264 million a year and the rail body says the £250,000 it is spending on combating it is money well spent.

Vandalism leads to thousands of pounds being unnecessarily spent on repairs to the rail infrastructure and trains, delays of 800,000 minutes a year and lost time due to injury and trauma to railway employees, along with a serious risk to the safety of trains and their passengers.

An estimated 640,000 objects are placed on the tracks each year and four million objects deliberately thrown at trains.

There are an estimated 27 million cases of trespass each year.

A crime is committed every 90 seconds in peak periods.

Ben Herbert, of Network Rail, said: "We have a real problem in the Eastbourne area with children risking their own lives and those of others by trespassing on the railways, placing objects on the track and even throwing missiles at trains.

"The situation has become so serious that we have had to install new fencing around the Hampden Park area to prevent trespass.

"This has improved the situation but it is still important for us to get the message across that railway crime is dangerous and that children are risking their own lives and those of others by trespassing on the railway."

The helicopter will be landing in Hampden Park on Wednesday and Thursday next week, from 10am to 4pm, as part of the No Messin' Live campaign, which aims to show young people alternatives to playing on the railway.

No Messin' Live showcases fun and sports activities children can try out during the summer holidays.

The event will feature a range of activities, including rugby, extreme frisbee, wrestling, athletics and basketball, as well as teaching youngsters the dangers of playing on the railway.

It is aimed at children between ten and 16.