Youths are hanging around a Shropshire train station late at night and intimidating rail users, it has been claimed.

Some rail staff travelling to Craven Arms have refused to get off when the train got to the station because they were afraid of the groups of young people loitering about, town councillors heard.

Councillor Clive LeWorthy said a resident picking up his wife and daughter late one evening had described how he felt intimidated by groups of young people at the town’s station.

Councillor Sharon Demos, who has lived near the station for six years, said problems arose because residents did not know who to call to report the incidents and said: “People phone the police but they say it is the responsibility of the British Transport Police.”

She said youngsters hung around the station on a regular basis but the incidents often occurred late at night during school holidays and weekends.

Mrs Demos said staff who came down on the train to clear up and collect litter had even refused to stop at Craven Arms because they were so intimidated by the youngsters.

The councillors agreed to invite police officers and British Transport Police to the next town council meeting.

Simon Lubin, media relations manager for British Transport Police said: “We will certainly look into these reports about Craven Arms and try to resolve the residents’ issues.

“It is important that people do report this sort of thing to us, so we can build up a picture of where problems are occurring and deploy our resources accordingly.”