TRANSPORT chiefs have urged children to stay away from railway lines after it was revealed that Farnworth is the 20th worst hotspot for track trespassing in the country.

Police recorded 19 incidents of youngsters playing on the line last year - the same number which occurred at both Euston and Brixton in London.

Farnworth councillor Noel Spencer believes it will not be long before someone is killed unless more is done to educate children about the dangers.

He said: "I would urge parents to do everything they can to make sure that youngsters stay away from railway lines.

"As well as the danger of being hit by a train, there are high voltage electricity cables in these areas which can cause serious injury or death to anyone who touches them."

The new figures from the British Transport Police come just a few months after an earlier survey showed that Farnworth station had the highest rates of railway crime in the North-west.

The new poll was topped by Leeds which recorded 51 trespassing incidents last year.

It also named Walkden as one of the worst hotspots for trespassing and vandalism in the North-west.

Chief Inspector Peter Holden, of the British Transport Police, said: "We deal with thousands of trespass offences each year and many of these lead to other offences of vandalism, which can have potentially fatal consequences for the trespasser and other people using the railway.

"Many offenders are children, some of whom access the track through holes created by adults taking short-cuts."

Health and Safety figures show that five children under 16 years of age were killed and many more were injured on railway lines across the country last year.

Cllr Alan Whitehead, chair of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's Transport Network Committee, added: "We need to get the message across that railway lines are no place for children to be playing."

Members of the public who witness children on or near railway lines are urged to report it to British Transport Police by calling 0800 40 50 40.