HALF-term youngsters are putting their lives at risk by placing grass snakes on railway lines in a new sick craze.It is thought three youngsters, aged between ten and 11-years old, could be responsible for one incident, which was reported at 5.

HALF-term youngsters are putting their lives at risk by placing grass snakes on railway lines in a new sick craze.

It is thought three youngsters, aged between ten and 11-years old, could be responsible for one incident, which was reported at 5.20pm on Sunday.

The three boys were seen loitering around the railway track near to the Runnacles Way crossing in Felixstowe.

British Transport Police are warning youngsters of the perils of such behaviour and urged parents to take action.

Sergeant Bob Munn said: "This kind of behaviour is very worrying. Whenever anyone trespasses on the railway lines, they put their own lives very much at risk.

"In these circumstances, the very real danger is to the children concerned."

He appealed to parents to stamp down on the craze and said: "Do you know where your children are now? If not, have a look because otherwise the next knock on the door might be from one of my officers.

"In this area, the great majority of these offences are committed by children who see the railway lines as a playground. They are putting their lives in very real danger."

Sunday's incident comes just weeks before the launch of route week, which runs from June 15 to 22.

One of the aims of the campaign is to educate people about the dangers of railway lines and to warn people against playing near to them.

In February last year train drivers reported children between the ages of about nine and 11 playing chicken on the line.

There have been more than a dozen incidents in the past four years of youngsters trying to derail trains by placing items on the tracks.

These items included wood, a metal spike covered with a tarpaulin, concrete lumps, bikes and shopping trolleys.