A TRAIN company is offering a £2,000 reward after a railway worker was assaulted at Skipton Railway Station.

The attack took place at about 2am on Saturday August 9 and the railway worker was taken to hospital where he had nine stitches to a head wound.

Now Arriva Trains Northern has offered a reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the people responsible.

The incident happened close to Broughton Road where a train had been stabled overnight. It occurred after the railway worker confronted two people daubing graffiti on a train.

He was assaulted by both people, who were later joined by up to eight others who may have become involved in the ongoing assault.

These people are believed to be associates of the first two.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "The offence is deplorable in the fact that it appears to have been an unprovoked attack on a member of staff while conducting his duties.

"A further result of the incident was the fact that the train was taken out of service for cleaning and this subsequently caused delays to customers using the services of Arriva Trains Northern."

Information is sought from anyone who witnessed the attack, can recognise the e-fit likeness or can identify the graffiti signatures - which include DTC, BOP, DFOLEXIC, BEP, YEBA and KDG.

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence. Ring British Transport Police on 0800 405040 and quote incident log 43, 08/08/2003. Or ring the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.