POLICE investigating the deaths of two teenage boys on a North-East railway line last night issued a stark warning that children are dicing with death every day.

The alert was sounded as a shocked community struggled to come to terms with the tragedy on the East Coast Main Line, in Darlington.

Stuart Adams, 15, and Lee Mullis, 14, were killed instantly when the 8.30pm Manchester Airport to Newcastle service crashed into them as they played on the track in the dark on Friday night. Police are investigating claims they were playing "chicken".

Detectives were also examining claims that the boys, described yesterday as popular youngsters, had been drinking.

They were said to be part of a youth culture where teenagers hang around in groups of up to 150.

Last night, floral tributes to the teenagers were piled underneath the Five Arches Bridge, in Darlington.

Sergeant Neil Hubbs, of the British Transport Police, said: "We have reports of people trespassing on the railways in and around Darlington on a daily basis.

"Sometimes they are taking short cuts over lines, sometimes they throw things at trains. And they are just the ones that get reported. There has always been a problem and there always will be."

Over the weekend, since the boys were killed, there were 18 reports of people on or next to railways lines in the region.

On Saturday, at the scene of their deaths, a crowd of more than 50 teenagers gathered.

They were huddled in groups, holding each other and sobbing. None could believe what had happened.

One of Lee and Stuart's best friends showed The Northern Echo where the pair had squeezed through a gap between the stone bridge and metal railings, before climbing over a fence on to the tracks.

He witnessed their deaths and was so shocked he could barely speak, but said they had been drinking.

Red-eyed and sobbing, a 14-year-old girl who was with the boys when they died, said: "We were sitting under the bridge and heard them on the track. We told them to get off.

"We heard a bang and then someone screamed."

A 15-year-old boy said: "I was trying to get them off because they are my best mates. I didn't want them on the track. And then we heard the train coming."

Another teenager said: "At the end of the day, we shouldn't have gone up there. But they should have a bigger fence."

The youngsters denied claims that the teenagers were playing chicken.

Sergeant Dave Kirton, of Darlington police, believes the community is failing teenagers by not providing them with things to do on Friday nights.

Sgt Kirton, who heads a specialist team to stop children's anti-social behaviour, said the only youth provision in the town was a chill-out caf at the town's Dolphin Centre.

He said: "These kids have nothing to do and that is why they are getting drunk and playing on the railway line.

"This accident has really brought it home to the team, because if these kids had had somewhere to go and hang out on Friday night, these two boys might be alive today."

Keith Cotgrave, headteacher of Longfield Comprehensive where the boys were pupils, said: "There is not enough for kids to do, there is a desperate need for more facilities for young people.

"It is a national problem.

"I am very pleased to hear that the police in Darlington are tackling it because it has been ignored for too long."

He said he was in the process of trying to open the school to the community for sport and social activities in the evenings and at weekends, and was to carry out a consultation exercise in the next few weeks.

Mr Cotgrave added: "This is a tragic loss of young lives which promised so much potential. Our thoughts are with the parents and families at this time."

Lee and Stuart had been friends since primary school. Lee was a promising golfer who was due to represent England this week and had hopes of turning professional.

Stuart had just been offered a plumbing job from his work experience. Friends described him as a talented footballer.

Yesterday, at the scene of their deaths, two golf clubs and a pair of football boots had been tied to railings.

Detective Chief Inspector Danny Snee, of British Transport Police, said: "Whether drink or drugs had anything to do with this tragic accident will have to be examined.

"The railways are not a playground - they are incredibly dangerous."