Police are accompanying railway staff at stations and on trains throughout south east London to enforce face mask regulations.

The new scheme is being piloted on services run by Southeastern, Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern, running until November 22.

Anyone who refuses to wear a mask, unless exempt, will face a fine of up to £6,400.

Chief Superintendent Martin Fry, of BTP, said: “We know that the majority of people want to do the right thing and comply with the law, playing their part in protecting each other by wearing face coverings, not only on trains, but also in stations.

“Those who do comply with the law, or are exempt, have no need to worry.

"However, there is a minority who deliberately flaunt the law.

"This not only needlessly makes passengers nervous about travelling, it puts lives at risk.”

British Transport Police handed out 32 fines between June 15, when the new laws came in to place in England, and August 17.

The total figure rose to 81 by September 24, by which point the force had also stopped 54,175 people to remind them of the rules, and asked 3,842 people to leave the railway.