More than 150 fare dodgers have been taken to court by train operator Greater Anglia and ordered to pay fines totalling almost £28,000.

The train company brought prosecutions in Southend Magistrates’ Court against 150 people deliberately evading paying for a ticket and caught by Revenue Protection Inspectors. They were all caught in Essex, on the mainline between Colchester and Southend and the county’s branch lines.

Train operator Greater Anglia is warning people to be vigilant when near the tracks following an increase in the number of trespass incidents on its network.

The number of trespass incidents on the Greater Anglia network has increased 16% year-on-year from 2015-6, with more than 500 reported incidents taking place in 2016.

Trespass incidents involve a member of the public being on the tracks without permission.

Rail passengers in East Anglia are now able to buy Advance tickets on the day of travel as Greater Anglia has introduced a new great value fare.

Advance purchase tickets, which must be used on specified services, are usually cheaper than single fares bought on the day of travel.

Previously, they could only be bought up to 23.59 the night before travel, but now Greater Anglia is launching Advance Purchase on the Day tickets, which will be available up to ten minutes before travelling.