MORE than 120 people in the West Midlands have been named and shamed by train bosses after being convicted for fare evasion.

Central Trains - which runs services through Worcester and Malvern - has put up posters naming the 127 offenders who have had to pay out a total of £22,471 at stations around Birmingham.

It is part of the company's Don't Be A Loser - Buy A Ticket campaign which was launched at the end of March and has convicted a total of 215 people.

Around six per cent of people travel around the West Midlands without a ticket, a figure which Central Trains is aiming to cut by half.

At the beginning of May, the penalty fare for travelling without a ticket increased from £10 to £20, but is still not deterring some passengers from taking the risk.

"The number of people who have been convicted again this month is staggering and just goes to show the amount who have been travelling without a ticket," said Richard Brooks, business manager for West Midlands' services at Central Trains.

"The message is simple - don't be a loser, buy a ticket!"