WITNESSES who may have filmed a train guard being threatened near York have been asked to contact police.

The 45-year-old guard was dealing with a passenger allegedly travelling without a ticket who became aggressive and threatened the guard who fled to his cab for safety and contacted the police.

British Transport Police said three youths on the 14.48 York to Scarborough service on December 1 may have filmed the incident before getting off at Malton.

A 28-year-old man from Moston in Manchester has been arrested by police for threatening behaviour and travel fraud. He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries until January 14.

PC Nick Storey, the investigating officer, said: “A number of witnesses told us that the three young men travelling on the service recorded the incident on their mobile phones... We would like to hear from them, and would encourage them to contact us as they may have vital information which could help our enquiry.

“We would encourage anyone else who was travelling on this busy service and may have witnessed the incident to please get in touch.”

Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting background log NEA/B5 of 10/12/2012.