Rail bosses are to use private security guards to tackle rowdy behaviour and violence on the Aire Valley line.

Train operator Northern Rail is to put highly-visible uniformed security officers on trains in the late afternoon and evening to deter troublemakers and reassure passengers.

The company said it had been forced to take the unusual step after its staff reported a spate of "unpleasant incidents" on the Leeds-to-Skipton route, which is the second-worst for crime across Northern Rail's large network.

Security officers on the trains will be backed up by a support team in cars racing ahead to stations when needed.

Private security officers are commonly used on trains in London and Glasgow, but this is thought to be the first time they have been used in West Yorkshire.

A Northern Rail spokesman said: "We are looking at having seven officers on that line and it will be on the late services.

"We are aware of a number of reports of anti-social behaviour and these officers will be used as a deterrent.

"They will be wearing uniform, they will look like police officers and will provide a highly-visible presence."

The new Passenger Response Team will operate from 3pm until the last train of the night.

John Prestage (Lab, Keighley Central), a member of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, sounded a note of caution about the plans.

He said: "I can see why they want to do this because the last two or three trains out of Leeds can be very rowdy and that can be intimidating for some people.

"But I'm not keen on the idea of using private security companies. We already have the British Transport Police based at Shipley and part of their job is to go on the trains, so I would prefer them to be used instead."

Mr Prestage said Northern Rail should consult closely with transport police before introducing private security officers. The contract to provide the new security team was put out to tender this week.

Section Inspector Tracy Metcalf, of British Transport Police, said: "It's going to give another round to the policing community which can only be a good thing.

"It's worked well in other areas of the country and there's no reason why it should not work here.

"Late night trains are always a problem due to people being out on the town. It's usually the Skipton trains out of Leeds that are the worst."

Insp Metcalf said the transport police would continue to deal with trouble-makers and would seek Anti-Social Behaviour Orders for persistent offenders.

She said the new transport police base at Shipley Railway Station was close to opening but had been slightly delayed by difficulties installing communication equipment.

Tim Calow, the chairman of the Aire Valley Rail Users' Group, said: "It's a worthwhile idea because anti-social behaviour is an issue and there are only limited numbers of British Transport Police.

"Northern Rail say they have more incidents on the Aire Valley line than anywhere else apart from the Manchester to Bolton line."

Last year, Northern Rail said its staff in Yorkshire and the Humber were suffering 14 physical assaults and 30 verbal assaults each month, including an incident in Shipley where a conductor was hit across the head with a bottle.

Shipley MP Philip Davies said anything that improved the security of passengers and railway staff was to be welcomed.

He said: "It's a positive move if Northern Rail is prepared to put its hands in its pockets to pay for extra security."

Train operator Southern, which runs services out of London, has reported a drop in anti-social behaviour since it introduced a private security firm on some of its trains three years ago.