A 16-year-old girl was arrested after a teenage boy and girl were attacked on a train.

Rail services between Brighton and Worthing were delayed last night at 9.20pm while British Transport Police boarded a train.

Officers arrested a 16-year-old girl at Shoreham station on suspicion of assault. She remains in police custody.

The two teenagers did not suffer any serious injuries during the incident.

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A police spokeswoman said: “Officers were called to Shoreham By Sea at 9.20pm last night following reports that a teenage boy and girl had been assaulted on a train.

“Thankfully they didn’t sustain any serious injuries.

“Any witnesses who haven’t already spoken to police are asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 quoting reference 609 of 13/08/23.”

The line to Worthing was blocked for around 30 minutes because of the incident.

Last month, police had to speak with drunken youths at Goring station including one who “tried to walk along the railway tracks”.

Samantha Facey, Govia Thameslink Railway's Safety, Health and Security Director, said: "We care passionately about the safety of our passengers and we continue to collaborate with the police, schools and social services to address known problems of youth disorder in the area.

"We have our team of travel safe officers – which we’ve committed to fund throughout our franchise at a cost of £1 million a year, working with our rail enforcement officers in the area supporting our policing partners as we tackle this issue.

"We know from other organisations that this is a part of a broader community issue being experienced across West Sussex.

"With cases of this nature involving young, potentially, vulnerable people we recognise that it's a complex situation and we continue to work across multiple agencies to support their efforts and safeguard our passengers and colleagues." 

Last August, Southern Rail said it was investing in special travel officers following problems with “youth disorder” on the Worthing line.