A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD boy accused of luring a younger child on to railway tracks appeared in court yesterday.

The boy, from Hartlepool, was brought before the town's magistrates to answer allegations that he forced a five-year-old on to the tracks against his will.

He was charged with endangering the safety of another person on a railway line, obstruction of a railway line and trespassing.

The charges were brought after officers investigated allegations that a child, also from Hartlepool, was enticed on to railway tracks at Hindpool Close.

British Transport Police, who brought the case to the attention of the Crown Prosecution Service, said a train driver had to make an emergency stop after spotting the youngsters close to the track.

Officers were called to the railway embankment by people at the nearby Phoenix Community Centre at about 4pm last Thursday.

The area was cordoned off while officers carried out investigations.

The incident has prompted calls for the railway embankment to be completely fenced off.

Appearing before magistrates with his mother, the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was granted conditional bail and told to return to the court on April 18.

His bail conditions prevent him contacting any of the witnesses or entering or being on railway property