Health chiefs have called for a railway crossing where five mentally ill patients have committed suicide in the last year to be closed.

Airedale NHS Trust has identified Eastburn Crossing as a "hot spot" for railway suicides.

And board members have asked rail authorities to close the pedestrian crossing next to the Steeton hospital in a bid to prevent more people from walking in front of trains.

It is one of 18 recommendations that have been made following an inquiry into the tragic deaths of patients Susan Steinker, 44, and 62-year-old Florence Burland, who committed suicide at the crossing, at the bottom of Thornhill Road, on October 17.

Chief executive Robert Allen said: "Clearly access to the railway line is a hot spot and we have already engaged the appropriate railway authorities about denying access to people at that point along the railway line.

"These things are not easy of course because it's a right of way and there is access to farmland, and there are other members of the community to consider."

He said there were also concerns about the policy of locking doors and observation levels in the hospital.

All of those procedures needed to be improved.

Medical director Dr Paul Godwin questioned the effectiveness of closing the crossing.

"We do have a canal, river and trunk road, all of which have been subject to suicide attempts during my time at Airedale," he said.

Ward 4 at the hospital -- where mentally ill patients are treated -- is not a secure unit and in keeping with current recommended practice does not keep patients behind lock and key.

Dr Godwin said that while keeping patients locked up would stop them from taking their own lives in this way, it would be detrimental to the quality of their care.

He said that such incidents would always occur while trying to rehabilitate people into the community.

"It is not an indication of bad care, just a way of trying to do the best for patients in community health care," he added.

Mr Allen revealed that during the last six years, 31 people who had some contact with the hospital's mental health services took their own lives, compared to the national average of 29.

Peter Putwaine, chairman of patient watchdog Airedale CHC, said: "We have yet to see the report so I can't comment on it specifically, but we would welcome any report that leads to a safe and secure environment for patients."

A copy of the report has gone to Keighley coroner's officer Les Scaife, who expressed his concerns about patient security following the recent deaths.

Mr Allen said the board might be required to take any actions recommended by Mr Scaife.

Airedale NHS Trust will also forward the report to the new Bradford District Care Trust, which has taken over the management of mental health services in Airedale and Craven from the Steeton hospital trust.

Mr Allen once again extended the hospital's sympathy to the families of the bereaved.

A spokesman for Railtrack said representatives from the company had been taking part in group meetings that had been regularly reviewing what possible steps could be taken, and one of those things was closing the level crossing.

"Railtrack simply can't close the level crossing as it would be up to the local council authority to close it", he added.

"Various proposals have been put forward and we are working with the hospital to see them through."

Railtrack said there were 200 suicides or suspected suicides on the UK rail network in 2001/2002.