A children's birthday trip turned to terror when two young girls were left stranded on a dark railway platform.

Kayleigh Bradley, ten, and Charlie Ellis -- who was celebrating her 11th birthday -- got off the train at Keighley Station after a fun-filled day out.

But two other girls and the two mums with the group were trapped on the train when the doors shut them in.

Youths tampering with external switches on a neighbouring carriage had caused the doors to malfunction.

Kayleigh's frantic mum Amanda ran down the train to alert the guard, but he said they would have to get off at the next station -- Steeton and Silsden -- and then return to Keighley.

Meanwhile, Charlie's mother Shirley McComb rang 999 from her mobile. A police operator took some details and said someone from British Transport Police would call her back straight away, but nobody did.

The two women and the other girls with them -- Jessica Courtman and Kayleigh's sister Danielle, both nine -- got off at Steeton and Silsden Station, rushed across a footbridge and caught a train back to Keighley.

Distraught Kayleigh and Charlie had made their way up to the ticket office, where they were looked after by a member of staff. The incident happened at about 5pm on Saturday after the group, from Bracken Bank, had spent a day in Bradford ice-skating, visiting a museum and enjoying a meal at a burger restaurant.

Jessica's mum, Caroline Browne, said all the children had been deeply distressed by what happened.

She told us: "Everyone had really enjoyed their day and a taxi was booked to take them home from Keighley Railway Station.

"In the rail carriage in front of them teenagers were messing about and one of them tampered with a button which caused the doors to malfunction.

"The doors partially opened and Kayleigh and Charlie got off onto the platform." The mums tried to get the girls back on to the train but the doors shut again and the train moved off.

Caroline added: "Shirley frantically dialled 999, explained to the police what had happened and asked them if they could get somebody to the railway station where the two girls were stranded. The operator took all the details and said somebody would call her back, but no one did.

"Two young girls were left frightened and alone on a dark railway platform. All sorts of terrible things go through your mind -- anything could have happened to them.

"Amanda ran down the train shouting for help and found the guard, who was talking to an elderly gentleman.

"The guard should have been on the platform doing his duty and checking everything was OK."

A police spokesman said British Transport Police were alerted to the incident immediately and contacted Keighley Railway Station, where staff ensured the children were safe in the booking office.

"An attempt was made to phone the lady back on her mobile but contact couldn't be made," said the spokesman. "With the knowledge that the children were safe and the mother was returning to Keighley, it's likely that no further attempt to phone her was made. If rail staff had been unable to locate the children at the station, police officers would have been despatched immediately."

British Transport Police had not responded by the time the Keighley News went to press.