ROWDY youths hanging around Ilkley Station have been blamed by a rail worker for the human waste, which litters the track.

The worker, who did not wish to be named, said a gang of youths are using the toilets on waiting trains as a public convenience.

The worker said: "In the evening the trains go at hourly intervals. We can have trains waiting there for half an hour at a time.

"We have had many occasions when we have turned young people off trains because they are using the toilet when the train is sitting there."

Waste falls straight onto the track and many passengers have been appalled at the mess, which greets them as they step off the train.

There are signs asking people not to use the toilet unless the train is in motion.

The worker said: "The main problem is not passengers using the toilet but the large number of youths who hang around at the station.

"If the good people of Ilkley would take the trouble to find out just what their beloved offspring do at the

station, they might actually realise that a large part of the problem is

self-created."

The railway worker said that often more than 20 young people gather at the station for smoking and drinking sessions.

The rail-worker has also claimed that the gang of youths, many of whom use the platforms as a skateboard park, are intimidating to genuine passengers.

They are also said to be congregating with an older person, who has been seen shouting at rail travellers.

The worker said: "There is someone who hangs around with them. As far as I can work out he is homeless. I heard him shouting abuse at a woman passenger when she was getting on the train.

"I do not know how much of an influence he has on them. I believe they give him money to buy them drinks, although I have no way to prove this."

Coun Kate Brown, former chairwoman of Ilkley Parish Council, said: "I find it most unacceptable. It is appalling to think that passengers

are having to be subjected to this untreated waste.

"It is awful to think that passengers are also being intimidated by youths hanging around the station.

"If they are being bought alcohol by someone else perhaps the off licenses need to watch to see if anyone is buying an unusual amount."

Coun Brown said that she would raise the matter with the parish council, with a view to contacting Railtrack, Northern Spirit and Ilkley Police.

A spokeswoman for Northern Spirit said: "We would urge anyone who saw or heard anything to contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040."