Parents are being urged to teach their children about railway safety after youngsters were reportedly spotted on the tracks near Dalton Station.

Two young boys were said to be on the line and were told by a resident to get off, just minutes before a freight train came through.

The incident came just weeks after British Transport Police were called out to the docks branch at Salthouse Junction in Barrow after a report of eight children trespassing on the tracks, which was labelled ‘reckless and dangerous’.

A spokesman at the time revealed the group had used the railway on Tuesday evening to access the dock to go fishing.

Dave Taylor, chair of Dalton Community Action group, said: “We were told by residents of Dalton that two young lads were on the tracks recently.

“Could parents please let their children know about the dangers of walking on railway lines.

“Within less than a minute of him getting off the tracks, a freight train came through.

“Doing this is also illegal and could be dealt with by a fine.”

Trespassing on the railway is illegal and dangerous. You could be taken to court and face a £1,000 fine.

According to Network Rail, when rail companies see someone trespassing, they have to stop all trains in the vicinity to remove trespassers, check for damage and clear blockages.

This not only delays nearby trains, but also has a knock-on effect on trains across the network, sometimes lasting for hours.

Certain parts of the railway, including stations, underpasses and level crossings, are open to the public. But when people go onto the tracks, embankments or other areas, they are trespassing.

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “This is a timely reminder that it simply isn’t safe to play on the rail lines – but for a couple of minutes this could have been a tragedy.

“I hope that the one good thing to come from this incident will be parents reminding their children of train line safety."