A six-foot spiked metal fence is to be put up around a Ludlow play area to stop youths walking on to rail lines. Steventon New Road play area has a history of children trespassing on the rails.

Residents and councillors have been campaigning for increased safety. They have warned lives could be lost unless children are kept away from the tracks.

Today Network Rail confirmed it would be putting up a palisade fence to prevent any further access.

Spokesman Ben Herbert said: “The palisade fencing, which is 1.8 metres-high and has a spiked top, is being put in place to prevent access and keep children off the railway.

“Trespass on the railway can cause delay and disruption for thousands of passengers as well as being incredibly dangerous. Railways aren’t playgrounds. Our message is stay safe and stay off the tracks.”

Mr Herbert said the fence should be in place before Christmas and said anyone witnessing people trespassing on railway lines should report it to the British Transport Police.

District councillors Viv Parry and Susan McCormack, who had put pressure on Network Rail to install the fence, today welcomed the move.

Mrs Parry said: “At long last we’ve got some action to solve this problem. There has been a crying need for proper safety fencing to dissuade children from going on the line there for a long time. Let’s hope they crack on with the work soon.”

Fencing has recently gone up around the pedestrian underpass and road bridge in Sheet Road, which was often used as a short cut by youths.