Forty-two-year-old family film The Railway Children, filmed near Keighley, has received its first complaint – by a viewer who thinks it encourages children to play on railway lines.

Yesterday British Board of Film Classification released its annual report, which deals with the complaints lodged with them over the past 12 months.

Among the most surprising is a complaint about the 1972 film, which used Oakworth Station and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Line as the backdrop, and the line still celebrates the link with an annual Railway Children weekend, featuring recreations of scenes from the film.

The film is rated U - suitable for all, and features scenes of children venturing onto the rail tracks.

The BBFC’s report said: “The correspondent was concerned that children may be encouraged to play on railway tracks as a result of seeing the film. While aware of the real dangers of such behaviour, the BBFC judged that it was very unlikely that The Railway Children would promote such dangerous activity.”

Jim Shipley, of the railway, said: “It is a 42 year old film based on a book from 1906 - the world changes all the time. Today we are much more safety conscious. You have to watch films like this in the spirit of the times. If the film was made now I’m sure many things would be different.”

He said the railway always taught children the importance of rail safety during any educational events or school trips to the line.

He added: “We do need to make sure children today know the risks.”