Teenagers urged to keep off rails

Seven people in the Midlands have died while trespassing this year

A new rail safety campaign is being launched in the Midlands aimed at stopping children and teenagers playing on tracks during the summer holidays.

Bosses at Central Trains said they hoped to bring home the message that a station should not be used like a park as a place to hang out.

Five people in the West Midlands and two in the East Midlands have already died while trespassing this year.

All were aged between 14 and 18, a Central Trains spokesman said.

'Stay off'

Children are being invited to design posters to be displayed at main stations across the region.

The posters should illustrate the danger of trespassing on the tracks.

Central Trains' managing director Steve Banagham said: "Trains speed through stations on some lines at more than 100mph and it takes them at least a minute and a half to stop.

"The message is simple - stay off the tracks."