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Some cyclists have been taking a potentially fatal shortcut along a railway track to avoid a road diversion.

British Transport Police (BTP) said the riders in Penrhyndeudraeth in Gwynedd also risked being prosecuted for trespass.

A diversion was set up for works between Llandecwyn and Penrhyndeudraeth railway stations to be carried out.

A BTP spokesman warned anyone caught in future will be fined.

'Gamble'

Sgt Tony Stamp said: "Trespass may not sound like a serious offence but in the unforgiving environment of the railway it can be fatal.

"Train drivers will not be expecting anyone other than railway workers to be on the line, and by the time they see someone trespassing, it could be too late. Anyone who trespasses onto the railway is taking a gamble with their own lives, as well as the lives of all the staff and passengers travelling on the trains."

BTP officers will be patrolling the area over the coming months and anyone caught trespassing could be handed a penalty notice of ^50.

Police asked people to report any trespassing by contacting the BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police warning on railway trespass - Gwynedd

British Transport Police (BTP) is warning Gwynedd residents and sightseers to put safety first and stay off the tracks.

Following worrying recent incidents, local officers have issued a warning on the dangers of straying onto the railway line.

Sergeant Tony Stamp, officer in charge at BTP Bangor, said: ^Trespass may not sound like a serious offence but, in the unforgiving environment of the railway, it can be fatal. Train drivers will not be expecting anyone other than railway workers to be on the line, and by the time they see someone trespassing, it could be too late. Anyone who trespasses onto the railway is taking a gamble with their own lives, as well as the lives of all the staff and passengers travelling on the trains.^

In issuing the warning, Sgt Stamp highlighted two recent incidents near Penrhyndeudraeth that had raised particular concern. These involved cyclists leaving the road and walking down the track to avoid a diversion.

^There are ongoing works on a section of road between Llandecwyn and Penrhyndeudraeth rail stations, with a diversion in place for all traffic and pedestrians,^ said Sgt Stamp. ^Worryingly, we^ve been made aware of instances where cyclists have walked along the railway which runs alongside the road instead of following the safe diversion. The road project is expected to be ongoing for the next two years, with diversions in place periodically throughout that time, so people really need to be aware of the dangers associated with such actions.

^These are extremely worrying incidents which could have had dire consequences, and I am concerned that unless this behaviour is nipped in the bud, it may be only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or even killed. My concern is that these people may not be fully aware of the danger they are putting themselves in.

^As well as highlighting the issue to people living in the area, I would also urge owners of local holiday parks, B&Bs and campsites to make visitors aware, as this is a popular tourist area.^

BTP officers will be patrolling the area over the coming months to detect and deter trespassers. Anyone caught trespassing can be handed a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) of ^50. Once a person has received one PND, any further offence may be dealt with by the courts, where they could be fined up to ^1,000.

Sgt Stamp said: ^Our main concern is keeping people safe. We are more interested in preventing instances of trespass and saving lives than enforcement, and I sincerely hope people heed the warning. However, we will not hesitate to take action against anyone caught trespassing on the tracks and endangering people^s safety ^ this includes anything from an on-the-spot fine to pursuing persistent offenders through the courts.

^We do not want to tell any husband or wife, mother or father, that their loved one will not be coming home. My message is simple - stay safe and stay off the tracks.^

You can report trespass and anti-social behaviour by contacting British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always dial 999.