CHILDREN as young as 10 are among those putting rail travellers' lives at risk by putting large objects in the path of oncoming trains

CHILDREN as young as 10 are among those putting rail travellers' lives at risk by putting large objects in the path of oncoming trains.Shopping trolleys, pushchairs and bicycles are being deliberately left on the footpaths which cross the tracks at Worle Parkway and Milton stations and stones are being thrown at high-speed trains as they pass through Uphill. PC Clive Davies, of the British Transport Police, says the youths, who are gathering in groups of 10 or more and frightening rail passengers, are also throwing objects off Flowerdown Bridge in Weston onto the tracks below.He said: "People could end up seriously injured or someone could get killed."If someone gets hit by a car they could survive, if they get hit by a train they stand very little chance."If a disaster did happen and the kids responsible had endangered someone else's life it would also carry a life jail term. These are serious offences."Milton station is a particular problem and the youngsters involved in the incidents range in age from under 10 to children in their mid-teens."We are often called to reports of youngsters by the side of the lines where trains pass through at high speeds."The British Transport Police is going to increase patrols during the summer and use a helicopter to monitor the problems."Avon and Somerset police officers are also experiencing problems with antisocial behaviour around Milton station, located at the end of Saville Road, and its car park. A dispersal order came into force there on May 4 which means groups of two or more people who have been misbehaving, or who officers think might cause problems, will be asked to move on and will not be allowed to return for 24 hours.The dispersal order also covers Flowerdown Bridge, The Maltlands in Locking Castle, Locking Moor Road and the Weston to Milton railway line.Anyone who ignores an order by a police officer asking them to leave the area could be fined up to £5,000 or jailed for three months.The dispersal order will last until midnight on November 1 and then there will be a review to see if a new one should be applied for.