An inquiry in the wake of a string of suicides by mental health patients in Airedale aims to avert further tragedies.

The report comes after five suicides on a nearby railway line by in-patients at Airedale General Hospital, near Keighley, in the past 12 months.

All were patients on ward four at the hospital at Eastburn.

The deaths of Susan Steinker, 44, of Oakworth, and Florence Burland, 62, of Keighley, on October 17, 2001, prompted the internal inquiry.

The pair, who were both detained at Airedale Hospital under the 1983 Mental Health Act, were killed when they left the hospital and were hit by a train at Eastburn level crossing.

Presenting the findings of the inquiry to the Trust board yesterday, chief executive Bob Allen said there was a genuine wish the report would help the bereaved come to terms with what had happened.

"It is the intention that the recommendations will help to avoid further tragedy," he said. "There has been a string of suicides involving Airedale patients. Five were on the local railway. Quite clearly that is alarming and that is why we carried out this inquiry."

The Trust has identified Eastburn crossing as a hotspot for suicides and is now seeking support from the newly-formed National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England.

Talks are already under way with Railtrack to examine ways in which access to the railway line might be restricted. However, Mr Allen said the crossing was a public right of way and other people had to be considered.

The inquiry panel was made up of four external members - a nurse, social worker, a doctor and a member of Airedale Community Health Council, along with Mr Allen and Jeremy Whaley, vice-chairman of the Trust. The inquiry included a comparison of suicide rates at Airedale with national averages, which showed that Airedale's rates were higher.

The team came up with 18 recommendations which included the need for an urgent review of when the door to the ward should be unlocked.

Trust medical director Dr Paul Godwin said that while there was an open policy of rehabilitation, incidents like this would occur. "If you lock wards, people do not have a chance to return to the community," he said.

Responsibility for mental health services in Airedale has passed to the newly-created Bradford District Care Trust since the suicides.

A spokesman said all aspects of care had been reviewed. Action already taken included the appointment of a dedicated senior manager on site, who would be in place by Friday.