Children have been caught trespassing on an Ayrshire rail line just seconds before a train charges through a station.
An eyewitness has told how they spotted youngsters walking along tracks and hanging their legs off the platform edge moments before the arrival of a maintenance train they claim was spraying "highly toxic" weed killer.
Hair raising footage was captured at Maybole Station on Tuesday night by the stunned onlooker who witnessed a group of three boys dice with death.
An image shows one of the boys standing on the tracks with his pal sitting on the platform edge moments before the huge train ploughs through the South Ayrshire station.
A video seen by Ayrshire Live shows how the group then walk away from the edge to hide behind a shelter.
An eyewitness said: “I was shocked to see this behaviour just 30 seconds before a weed killing train passed through the station spraying highly toxic solution over the track and surrounding area.
“I witnessed individuals sitting on the rail, walking along the track, hanging their legs over the platform edge, potentially with headphones on and hoods up, totally unaware that trains can appear at any time from any direction, not just the ones that show on the departure screen.
“Nonstop trains from the Girvan direction appear round a blind corner with little or no sound of notice.
“Parents please advise your kids not to play on the track or someone could be killed.”
Rail bosses Network Rail insist that the weed killer used is safe and is fully licensed by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD).
Chiefs have urged people to stay off the tracks.
Innis Keith, safety director, Network Rail Scotland, said: “Trespassing on the railway can have fatal consequences.
“When people go onto the tracks they are trespassing, breaking the law and if caught can face fines of up to £1,000.
“People who choose to trespass are risking their lives and that’s why our message is clear, stay off the tracks.”
Transport cops are investigating the incident.
A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “We received a report of children trespassing on the line at Maybole railway station on the evening of Tuesday, May 3.
“Enquiries into this incident are ongoing.”
If you see someone trespassing on the railway, call the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or 999, or text 61016.
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