AFTER seeing a group of children walking on the train tracks in Dilton Marsh, a man from Bristol has uploaded a video online in a bid to warn people of the dangers of trespassing on train tracks.

Kevin James, 46, of Ashwick, Whitchurch, was in Dilton Marsh on Tuesday to watch the passing steam trains when he spotted three young boys walking across the track.

When he attempted to warn them of the dangers of standing on the tracks, Mr James was then verbally abused by the children.

He said: “I went to Dilton Marsh to film the steam trains, I was near the blind bend in the track and that is when I saw them walking about on the tracks.

"I thought I would film them on the track so I could send the video to the local schools so they could be identified, not so they would get fined but so someone would be able to tell them of the dangers of what they were doing. I went over to talk to them and they started hurling abuse at me.

“If a train had come round that corner it wouldn’t have been able to stop in time and the last thing I want to see is kids killed by doing things like this.

"I think maybe the police should go to the schools and talk about the dangers. If they were to get hit it wouldn’t just be their families that suffer, it would be the train driver too.”

Since the video has emerged online, Network Rail has issued a statement to warn people of the risks they take when walking on the lines.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We remind people that if they are on the railway, they are on dangerous ground. It may seem like a good idea to take a shortcut, or like fun to play on the tracks, but this is not only illegal, it is also dangerous."

A spokesman from the British Transport Police said: “The railway environment is extremely dangerous and trains travel at speeds of up to 125 mph.

”We’d urge parents to make sure their children are aware of the hazards and remind them to stay away from the tracks.

“Those trespassing may believe they can cross the line before a train comes, however trains travel extremely fast and all it takes is a slip or a trip and they will not be able to get out of the way in time. Young people need to understand that what may seem to them as a fun or a game, can be deadly.”

If anyone has any information on this incident please call British Transport Police on 0800 405040 quoting reference 256 22/09/16,