by Nadia Sam-Daliri Lazy parents are putting their children s lives at risk by using live railway lines as a shortcut, residents are claiming. The reckless adults have been spotted climbing through a wooden fence in Yeats Close, Neasden,

by Nadia Sam-Daliri

Lazy parents are putting their children's lives at risk by using live railway lines as a shortcut, residents are claiming.

The reckless adults have been spotted climbing through a wooden fence in Yeats Close, Neasden, to get to Wharton Close, in a dangerous journey which will save themselves five minutes.

Alarmed residents in the area are calling for the council to erect taller fences before someone's life is claimed by the practice.

Lorraine Gay, 39, of Yeats Close, said: "My daughter has a two-year-old girl and she wouldn't dream of doing something so dangerous. She knows they could end up getting killed and all for what?

"It takes about 15 minutes to get to Church Street over the footbridge, which isn't too bad.

"I think the council should put bigger fences up to keep people out."

Evelyn Andrews, 45, also of Yeats Close, said: "There's a footbridge the other way. It takes about 10 minutes to get there but it's not worth risking your kids' life to cut off five minutes."

Concerned councillors plan to use £6,000 of the £20,000 allocated to each ward's Neighbourhood Working scheme to target schools and homes in an education campaign.

Carol Allen, Brent Council's neighbourhood co-ordinator for the area, said: "Crossing the live railway lines is incredibly stupid and those who do it risk death needlessly.

"Apart from the very likely risk of electrocution, fast moving trains can appear in an instant and then it's too late."

Police and Network Rail will speak to residents living in Wharton Close, Yeats Close and Lynton Close and students from John Kelly Boys' and Girls' School, in Crest Road, Neasden.

nadia.sam-daliri@archant.co.uk