26 January 2011 Last updated at 06:17 ET

Forth Bridge cable vandals cause train chaos

Forth Bridge The thefts are thought to be connected to the high price of copper

Police are hunting vandals who cut through a live cable on the Forth Bridge in an apparent attempt to steal its copper.

Trains on the East Coast line were severely disrupted for most of Tuesday after a 650-volt live signalling cable was severed at Inverkeithing in Fife.

British Transport Police said it was the latest in a series of metal thefts or attempted thefts on the rail network.

A total of 24 incidents have been reported in Scotland this year.

It is thought they are connected to the high price of copper.

Network Rail said the theft of a cable was an extremely dangerous crime and an attack on the whole community.

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