A Bradford councillor has been commended for his "hard work" in tackling an alarming rise in the theft of copper cable from railways.

Last year saw a giant leap in the theft of signalling cables across the rail network's north-east region, which includes West Yorkshire, leading to frustrating delays and cancellations.

Metro, the operating arm of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, singled out copper cable thefts as the main reason service cancellations in West Yorkshire averaged 0.8 per cent from October 2006 to February 2007, an increase on the same period the previous year.

In response to the growing crime, prompted by a rise in the value of copper, Councillor Stanley King (Con, Heaton) opened up emergency talks with British Transport Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Coun King, acting in his capacity as chairman of Metro, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, approached the CPS in an attempt to increase the legal penalties awarded to offenders.

Meanwhile, Network Rail co-ordinated an action plan to deal with the problem, which police said was most common in the north-east of England.

Now Metro's Rail Working Group has commended Coun King for his "hard work and efforts" concerning the spate of cable thefts in the region.

Coun King, who stepped down as Metro chairman today, said: "It's a very kind compliment. I had made contact with BTP and the local magistrates benches throughout West Yorkshire.

"We pointed out to them the dangers and disruption to the railway that ensued from people stealing signal cable and pushed for tougher penalties.

"As soon as someone cuts through it, all the signals go to red, trains stop and it causes tremendous delays. It's an insane thing to do because there's plenty of electric in those cables.

"The problem seems to have quietened down at the moment, so maybe all the baddies are in prison."

Four men have already received jail sentences after being convicted of copper cable theft by a court in Leeds in February, while two Doncaster men were given 12-month suspended sentences after an attempted theft at a level crossing in Yorkshire.

Bradford Rail Users Group welcomed tougher punishments for thieves and added that thefts of copper cable created havoc and a severe knock-on effect across the region.

Network Rail welcomed a recent "quietening off" of cable thefts, but added that the problem had not gone away.

A spokesman for the company's north-east office said: "What we have seen over the last year or so is that it does fluctuate and move around from one area to another.

"While there has been a small quietening off, we have seen that before and it doesn't mean we have cracked the problem. We are pleased with the reduction but are not convinced it's a permanent downward trend."