A gang who waged a drug-and-drink fuelled campaign of robbery and threats on rail passengers have been jailed.

The four men targeted passengers on Tube and commuter trains at stations including Highams Park and Walthamstow Central, stealing wallets, MP3 players, mobile phones and demanding PIN numbers for cash cards.

Melvyn Gay, 27, of Walthamstow, was the most prolific of the gang and was jailed for nine years at Southwark Crown Court, with a five-year licence extension upon release.

The victims were mainly young and vulnerable and included a 15-year-old girl, travelling alone.

Some were kicked and punched as well as being threatened with being "shanked" (stabbed).

Detective Constable Jon Pine, of the British Transport Police, said: "They targeted men, women and children and warned them of severe consequences if they resisted their demands."

Sentencing the gang, Judge James Wadsworth branded their tactics as "nasty" and said their use of knives was all the more dangerous because they were often high on drugs and alcohol.

"In respect of each of you, I must make clear that you pose a significant risk of serious harm to others because of the likelihood of further offences involving robbery or the use or carrying of knives," he said.

British Transport Police scoured CCTV footage to trace the gang and within hours of an appeal on Crimewatch in January, the public had named the men.

They were arrested within two weeks and pleaded guilty to a total of 17 counts of conspiracy to rob, robbery and attempted robbery.

Sheldon Williams, 20, of Clapton, and Aaron Flemming, 20, of Hackney, were handed four-and-a-half-year jail terms, and Douglas Lawrence, 20, of Tottenham was given five years.