Railway workers in Wales need protection from vicious attacks

The scale of attacks on railway staff in Wales has reached "civil unrest" proportions, according to the RMT rail union.

RMT official Brian Curtis described bricks being thrown through windows and gang fights spilling onto trains. "We've had a train pull into the station and people climbed on the roof of the train, trying to beat their way through to get at the guard and the driver," he said.

Commenting that the incidents range from spitting at guards - "a common thing these days" - to "one or two serious assaults", Curtis called for a "dramatic increase" in policing and more monitored CCTV coverage of stations.

British Transport Police figures show that there have been 42 attacks on train staff since April this year.

The RMT has met train operator Arriva to discuss the issue.