Trowbridge is the third worst area in the UK for incidents of railway crime, according to figures released this week.

Network Rail launched its annual No Messin’ campaign to highlight the dangers of young people playing on the railway by holding a free public event in Trowbridge on Monday.

Among the more shocking incidents committed in the south west by young people include throwing a chair at trains, firing air rifles at trains and hanging legs off platform edges.

The free event was held at the Longfield Community Centre and Longmeadow Primary School and included a range of sporting, music and arts activities to help encourage children to stay off the tracks.

There were more than 500 recorded incidents of railway crime involving young people last year in the south west.

Network Rail has been specifically targeting 100 locations known as being railway crime hotspots, leading to an average fall of 27 per cent in the levels of railway crime.

In 2007, there were 24 incidents of railway crime in Trowbridge and just one fewer in 2008. In Westbury there were 10 incidents in 2007 and seven in 2008.

Liz Heading, community safety manager for Network Rail, said: “We’re seeing some real success in bringing down the levels of railway crime in hotspot areas, but there is much more work to be done to save lives and prevent needless injury.

“We are working hard to tackle the most dangerous crimes where young people think it is fun to play ‘chicken’ with a 200-tonne train going at 100mph or place objects on the line, which could have catastrophic consequences."

British Transport Police deputy chief constable Andy Trotter said: “Our officers work tirelessly alongside Network Rail to educate youngsters that the railway is no playground and that those who gain access to prohibited parts of the railway are putting their lives at risk.”