TWO young boys were caught on CCTV trespassing at Midsomer Norton South Railway Station in the latest of a string of reported incidents at the site.

A surveillance camera captured the pair walking around the station just before 7pm on Wednesday, August 6. They quickly fleed after an alarm was triggered.

This is not the only incident that has taken place at the railway station in recent weeks.

On July 10, children were spotted climbing the signal post by the Hunt Crossing along the line, in spite of anti climbing measures. While no damage was done, the owners say such trespassing could pose a danger to those on the track.

Wires have also recently been seen to have been tampered with, again with no serious damage but additional work required to rectify any potential issues.

Someone also reportedly syphoned diesel from the D1120 locomotive that is found on the platform, which Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Co Ltd, who operate the station, believe occurred on the night of Friday, August 8.

Parts of the station have also been damaged. Volunteers found that a lump of local coal approximately 18 inches in diameter had been destroyed, a vintage weighing machine was damaged and a window had been broken. Nothing was reported stolen.

All of these incidents have been reported to the police.

Midsomer Norton South Railway Station is operated by Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Co Ltd. It is open most weekends, and plays host to a wide range of classic trains, often pulled by a vintage steam locomotive over one mile of the old Somerset & Dorset mainline railway.

Matt Cornborough, chair of Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Co Ltd, said: “Just before 7pm on Wednesday August 6 we have video footage of two boys entering our yard adjacent the Goods Shed.

“On hearing the alert alarm from the video surveillance camera they took flight and exited the area in the same direction that they had entered. We do not know where they went when they left that area.

“The activities have been reported to the police and a crime number obtained.

“We have noticed an increase in the instances of trespass onto the railway in general as the light evenings have lengthened which has increased further as schools have broken up for the summer holidays.

“We continue to undertake actions that ensure operations at the railway are safe for the public and volunteers. As has been said a number of times over the last few years the railway and its infrastructure contains dangers not the least of which is the potential for moving trains.

“The track, associated structures and vehicles are heavy objects which if they come into contact with the human body take no prisoners - a trip or fall onto a piece of railway line or other solid object could easily lead to a serious cut or a broken limb.

“Please do not trespass on the railway for your own safety, we do not wish to see you hurt.”