Youth appears in court after targetting a crane driver working on a station in Greater Manchester

A 17-year-old boy has been charged in connection with an incident in which a youth threatened a crane driver with an AK47-style rifle.

British Transport Police said the teenager, from Derbyshire, was charged with possession of an imitation firearm on Saturday, following the encounter at a railway station on 14 September.

Crane driver David Wood was working at Newton-for-Hyde Station in Greater Manchester when a boy on the other side of the tracks aimed a Kalashnikov-style assault rifle at him.

The workman said he saw one teenager take the gun from a bag, fit it with ammunition and then pass it to another boy who took aim.

Wood has criticised the police for failing to send an armed response team after his boss called emergency services.

The 17-year-old has been bailed to appear at South Tameside Youth Court on September 27.

A 15-year-old boy who was arrested last week remains on police bail, pending further inquiries, until October 20.