Pupils to be warned over deadly risk at crossing

POLICE are aiming to prevent rail tragedies by warning hundreds of children who use a level crossing near York as they walk to school of the dangers of ignoring the warning signals.

British Transport Police and North Yorkshire Police have teamed up with Network Rail and Manor Church of England Comprehensive School, to highlight dangers of not crossing the track properly in Nether Poppleton, near York.

Pupils from the comprehensive's feeder school, Poppleton Ousebank, will be at Manor School to meet officers today.

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The aim is to get the message across before the younger pupils join Manor CE in September, when they will need to use the level crossing to get to class.

Sgt Matt Popple, of the British Transport Police, said: "Safety at the busy level crossing is a top priority for us. A third of the students at Manor School live in the village of Poppleton and use the crossing to reach the school.

"Many of the children from Poppleton Ousebank will be moving into Manor School within the next few months. With everything that comes with moving into a new school and environment, often the smaller things like road safety are forgotten.

"We shall continue to spread the message of safety throughout the year with sessions at Manor School."

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Officers will be at the Nether Poppleton level crossing, on Millfield Lane, throughout the day educating the local community of the dangers the crossing can pose if not used correctly.

Vicki Smith, community safety manager at Network Rail, said: "We need pupils to realise the danger they would put themselves in if they ignore the warnings at the crossing. We all know the temptation to bend the rules, especially if you are in a rush, but it is both incredibly dangerous and illegal."