Rail chiefs have been condemned by residents for not repairing a damaged wall which restricts access to the line for six months.

The wall at New Lane, Thornbury, which overlooks the busy railway between Bradford and Leeds was damaged in a lorry accident.

But the initial two-foot hole has now grown to a 11-metre-wide gap, protected by a flimsy wire fence.

Residents say their complaints have not been acted upon and children regularly play near the wall, perilously close to the 30ft foot drop on to the line.

Bernie Perfitt, pictured, who lives directly opposite the wall, said she contacted Bradford Council as soon as the crash happened, but was told it was the Environment Agency's responsibility.

After she tracked down the agency, she was told it was down to the Bradford department of Network Rail, who then said it was actually the responsibility of its Leeds branch.

Bernie said she was then advised by Leeds that she should speak to Bradford again, which eventually admitted responsibility for the hole and put up the temporary fencing in February - three months after the initial accident.

"I've been passed from pillar to post, and still nothing has been done to sort it," said Bernie, 56, a member of the Thornbury Newlands community group.

"A lot of kids used to climb on the wall to pick apples off a nearby tree next to the line, but now they can just walk straight through it. It's an accident waiting to happen."

A Network Rail spokesman said a proposal to build a new section of the wall was put forward at the end of last year, and will be done sometime in the near future.

"We have to prioritise repairs and the wall is not considered as a priority," said the spokesman.

"We take into account criteria like whether it is hazardous or a known trespassing site, and this wasn't ranked at the top of the list - which is why work hasn't yet been undertaken."

But Bernie said that was not the view of residents.

"I would say it was very dangerous," she said. "Everyone round here has been going mad about it - there's many people concerned about their children."