AN urgent warning has been issued to young people as figures show trespassing on the rails is on the rise in Kilwinning.

British Transport Police revealed the number of youngsters risking their lives on the lines almost doubled last year.

There were 14 trespassing incidents reported in Kilwinning in 2013 and 13 in 2014. But by last year, the numbers jumped up to 23.

Over the past 10 years, almost 170 young people in the UK have lost their lives after trespassing on the railway.

The data shows that just under half of those killed are under the age of 25.

In the three year period, there has been an 18 per cent rise in the number of reports of trespass by children across Scotland.

Longer evenings, coupled with the school holidays, spell danger for Britain’s youth as statistics show young people

are twice as likely to trespass at this time of year than in the winter.

This summer, British Transport Police and Network Rail have asked parents to warn their children of the dangers of playing on the tracks.

Mark Henderson, senior community safety manager from Network Rail, said: “We are urging parents to remind their children that if they are on the railway, they are on dangerous ground.

“It may seem like a good idea to take a shortcut, or like fun to play on the tracks, but this is not only illegal, it is also dangerous.

“Britain has the safest railways in Europe but still too many people lose their lives on the tracks.

“As the railway gets busier and we electrify more lines to improve services, we must work harder to keep young people safe by making them aware of the dangers that exist.

“Taking a short cut or messing around on the tracks can result in serious life-changing injuries or death.”

Some 72 per cent of all trespassers who died over the last 10 years were struck by a train, with 17 per cent electrocuted and the others having fallen from structures or trains.

Most trespassers highlight taking a short cut (42 per cent) as their main motivation for committing the crime, followed by thrill-seeking (19 per cent).

In response to the seasonal surge in incidents, officers from British Transport Police are stepping up patrols across the region.

Chief Inspector Dave Marshall, who is responsible for BTP’s response to trespass in Scotland, said: “The last thing our officers want to do is knock on someone’s door to tell a parent their child has been killed or seriously injured as a result of trespassing.

“We’re doing all we can to keep young people safe by patrolling areas where we know they’re likely to trespass and prevent them from doing so.

“However, we cover thousands of miles of track and we cannot tackle this issue alone.

“That is why we are urging parents and young people to heed this warning and take a reality check when it comes to trespass.

“It’s not a game: they are real tracks, with real trains and real life consequences.”

To help keep your children safe on the railway this summer visit www.networkrail.co.uk/safety-education/information-for-parents/