POLICE are warning children that they are dicing with death by playing on busy railway lines.

Officers are becoming concerned about the number of youngsters who are trespassing on the lines during the school summer holidays. They are particularly fearful about those children who have been seen on the Five Arch viaduct, which goes over the River Skerne in Darlington.

The bridge is 50 yards long and once the children are on this stretch of the busy east coast main line they can not jump off because there is a 50ft drop below.

This means any child who is on the viaduct when a train comes would almost certainly be struck.

There is concern that the youngsters could be using the viaduct to play a potentially dangerous game of 'chicken.'

British Transport Police escorted three children, one aged only six, off the line on Sunday and are keen to stress the dangers of trespassing on the viaduct.

PC Stephen Strong said: "On this occasion we were able to warn the trains in advance about the children trespassing on the line so they could take the necessary precautions. The trains fly past at 100mph and if they hit someone on the viaduct, it would be catastrophic.

"Anyone who trespasses on a railway line is dicing with death, but the problem has been made worst recently because of the school holidays."

On this occasion, the three children, two of whom were under the age of criminal responsibility, caught on the line were taken home and given a warning.

People who trespass on railways lines can face a hefty fine and police are keen to stamp it out before someone is killed or injured. Anyone who witnesses people trespassing on railway lines anywhere in the region is asked to contact British Transport Police on (0800) 405040