Northern Rail is reminding school children that they need to buy tickets before getting on the train.

Revenue protection teams have been working in Cumbria’s train stations monitoring pupils attempting to board a train without a valid ticket.

They stopped and spoke with around 33 students each day.

Jason Wade, Northern’s head of retail operations said: “Everyone needs to buy their train ticket before they board, no matter how short the journey or age of the passenger.

“Train travel is not free and it is disappointing that such large numbers of pupils are choosing to attempt to travel without a ticket on a daily basis.”

Officers have given the children the chance to purchase valid tickets when they are caught out but in some cases, they have been refused travel.