A TRAIN company risk advisor has sent a strong message that "the railway is no place for games" after shocking footage emerged of youths throwing a bike on the tracks in West Yorkshire.

The CCTV clip shows two teenagers recklessly launching a pedal bike onto the railway line at Cross Gates Station, in Leeds.

This created a dangerous obstruction on the track, posing a risk to trains passing through the station.

A hooded youth wearing jogging bottoms can be seen riding the bike onto the station platform down a ramp and then stopping near the edge.

The youth then gets off the bike and angles it parallel to the edge of the platform, before lifting it up again and rotating it 90 degrees so the front wheel is hanging just over the end.

This youth leaves and then another youngster - wearing shorts and a hooded armless puffer jacket - comes running down the ramp.

The individual lifts the bike up, dumps it off the platform onto the track and then runs off up the ramp.

Vicki Beadle, Operations Risk Advisor for Network Rail, said: "I was astounded to see this reckless, irresponsible behaviour so close to the tracks at Cross Gates station.

"The railway is no place for games, and it certainly isn’t a playground.

"Seeing these young people put their lives at risk was a staggering reminder of our collective need to educate everybody about railway safety.

"I’d urge parents and carers to speak to their children about the devastating consequences of trespass, vandalism and antisocial behaviour."

It comes as new figures reveal that young people were involved in six of the 11 incidents reported at Cross Gates Station in the past year. 

This dangerous behaviour can lead to fatal, or life-changing, consequences for the individual, their family, and all of those involved.

But it also causes huge amounts of delays and costs for the taxpayer.

Trespass, vandalism, and antisocial behaviour has resulted in more than 300 minutes of train delay at Cross Gates Station, as well as costing Network Rail £20,000.

This is because when objects or people are spotted too close to the tracks, the railway network firm stops or slows down all trains in the area.

This can cause knock-on delays right across the network.

Network Rail works with the British Transport Police to crack down on this illegal behaviour, as well as visiting schools to educate young people on the dangers of the railway.

Sergeant Rob Pile, British Transport Police said: "This shocking footage should act as a wake up call to parents - we need them to talk to their children and teenagers urgently about the dangers of the railway and the impact of reckless behaviour like this.

"Apart from the obvious danger to themselves, placing items on the tracks can potentially cause a derailment and result in serious injury and potential loss of life to passengers and rail staff.

"We have increased patrols in the area in a bid to deter behaviour like this.

"Those responsible should know they will be caught and face prosecution."

People are being encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the British Transport Police by texting 61016.

In an emergency like this incident, people should always call 999.