Metal theft from Kent's railway lines has soared eight-fold in just three years, it's been revealed.

The cost to Network Rail was a staggering £686,529 between 2011 and February 4 this year. That rose from just £82,849 for the year 2009-2010.

The huge increase was revealed in an answer to a parliamentary question raised by Dartford MP Gareth Johnson.

The Kent backbencher said: "Despite a concerted effort by both British Transport Police and Kent Police, metal theft from our railways continues to rise.

"This type of crime is utterly selfish and affects commuters through extra delays to trains and ultimately the cost of fares."

It comes after Home Secretary Theresa May announced a crackdown through tough new legislation.

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill aims to:

• Create a new criminal offence that prohibits cash payments to purchase scrap metal and
• Significant increases infines for all offences under the existing Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 that regulates the scrap metal recycling industry.

This, coupled with the dedicated metal theft taskforce, forms part of the Government’s wider attempts to tackle all stages of the illegal trading of stolen scrap metal.

Mr Johnson said "It is right that the government is taking a stand on metal theft.

"The minority of scrap metal dealers who turn a blind eye to the origin of metal that they buy have to be taken to task.

"We cannot have a situation in Kent where metal thieves are costing Network Rail and ultimately commuters through their selfish actions."