Keighley's Work Safe Project teamed up this week with the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway to host a train safety event for 193 children.

The project has worked with five schools throughout the week, teaching the youngsters the dangers of railways and encouraging them to stay well away from the train lines during the forthcoming holidays.

Keighley Railway Station became a classroom, and the children travelled by steam train to Haworth, with a vintage rail carriage doubling up as a classroom.

As part of the scheme, the children had to find danger and warning signs and describe what they meant, which served as a way of making them aware of potentially fatal hazards.

In 1998-9 five children died as a result of trespassing on railways and 56 per cent of all train accidents were due to vandalism.

The Keighley Work Safe Project has organised a number of major school safety events in the past 12 months. Its work is part of the Bradford Health Action Partnership and Keighley Single Regeneration Budget health and communities initiative.

Mick Williams, project manager, says: "Accidents are the single biggest threat to children and young people, accounting for 400 deaths every year in the UK. This week's event has allowed children to identify the hazards and risks in a controlled environment and make an informed choice on where to play safely. "

All the children who have participated this week have been invited to design railway safety posters with a number of prizes on offer, donated by local companies.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.