Railway warning after children involved in near miss

The three-carriage Transport for Wales train had to slam on its emergency brakes

Children "playing chicken" on a railway line were nearly struck by a train over the weekend, police have said, as they issue a warning.

Police said a train driver had to slam on the brakes after seeing one of two young children standing on the track before moving out of the way at the last moment.

Transport for Wales said it happened on the Heart of Wales line near Knighton on the Powys-Shropshire border at about 14:40 BST on Sunday.

Officers from West Mercia, Dyfed-Powys and British Transport Police forces carried out a search of the area, but were unable to find the children.

Police issued a warning for children to behave responsibly around railway lines after the near miss.

Stuart Coote from West Mercia Police asked the children "to think of the dire consequences of such actions, putting themselves in extreme danger as well as those on the train".