TRANSPORT chiefs and councillors are looking into claims that a blind man fell from a train in Guiseley as he was unaware that it had stopped short of the platform.

Aireborough councillors Mike and Moira Dunn and Graham Latty promised to investigate after hearing the claim that a passenger stepped from a stationary train at Guiseley Station, without realising the carriage had not pulled up to the platform.

The matter was discussed at a recent meeting of Aireborough Community Involvement Team (CIT).

A member of the CIT, Elaine Parker, said the man was believed to have fallen from one of the new Class 333 trains, and said there were fears the new trains were too long for the platform. The passenger was not thought to have been hurt.

She suggested there should be warning announcements on trains for partially-sighted people, and asked if the platforms needed to be altered to accommodate the new trains.

Coun Moira Dunn - who said she was delighted with the introduction of new trains - raised the matter with West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, Metro, but has been unable to trace the man.

She said she was looking into difficulties for disabled people getting on and off trains.

Metro has promised to investigate, although train operator Northern Spirit said it knew nothing of such an incident. Both denied that the trains were too long for the platform.

A Metro spokeswoman said: "We have responded to Councillor Dunn, and we are quite happy that the length of the platform is sufficient to accommodate the trains."

She said Metro would raise the matter with Northern Spirit.

A Northern Spirit spokesman said: "The shortest platform at Guiseley Station is twice as long as the train. The other is almost three times as long. We do, however, advise that people take care when leaving the train to mind any gap, and the step down."