LATE night services between York and Leeds are among those feared most by North Yorkshire rail staff, a union leader has claimed.

Allen Heath, York regional organiser at the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), said drunken commuters were making life a misery for staff on the region's trains.

He has called for more protection for his members in the wake of figures which revealed an alarming increase in assaults on railway staff.

A report, released last month by the Health and Safety Executive, showed assaults had risen 22 per cent during the period of April 2000 to March 2001.

Commenting on the figures, RMT acting general secretary Vernon Hince said they represented "only the tip of the iceberg".

He added: "We are extremely concerned about these figures and believe more resources should be allocated to curbing staff assaults as a matter of urgency."

Today Mr Heath told the Evening Press that incidents in North Yorkshire were "definitely on the rise".

And he revealed that the busy Leeds to York line, which runs late night services until the early morning, was one of the most worrying for train staff.

"As far as we are concerned, this is an issue we treat with extreme concern," Mr Heath said.

"Too many of our members are being assaulted. The situation is getting worse and worse.

"Incidents are definitely on the rise in this region with the Leeds to York line being one of the worst.

"People have had too much to drink and conductors can't get fares. They are put in dangerous situations.

"Our members need greater protection on various routes. It is not very long ago that members withdrew from services on certain routes because they were dangerous."

One conductor, who asked not be named, added: "There is a lot that people don't know about.

"We put up with all kinds of things from drunks and people who won't pay for their tickets."

British Transport Police were not available for comment as the Evening Press went to press.

Updated: 10:52 Tuesday, January 22, 2002