AN accident just waiting to happen - that's the warning from Ged Burgess who has been campaigning for the past few years for secure fencing alongside the Liverpool to Wigan railway line.

Ged, from Thatto Heath, has written repeatedly to the railway companies but until now, he claims nothing has been done.

This stretch of railway runs through Thatto Heath at the side of the park and under Elm Road were the Greenway pathways can be accessed and they are both regularly used by children, cyclists and dog walkers, thereby causing safety concerns.

Mr Burgess met with representatives from Merseyside Advisory Panel, Network Rail and Merseytravel, who were also concerned by the state of the fencing and they promised to work towards a remedy of the situation.

Ged told the Star: "Local residents and I are concerned that at present it is too easy to access this busy line, and the danger is also to passengers if an abandoned car, as has happened previously, is pushed on to the rails.

"So I am really pleased that we are finally being listened to and we feel we will, at last see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Network Rail started work in the relevant area earlier this week but the new fencing that is being put up is still unsatisfactory in the eyes of many local residents as it is similar to what was there in the first place.

Mr Burgess, added: "What needs to be installed here is strong palisade fencing which is both secure and durable. This would help improve safety and make people living in the area a lot happier."

A spokesperson for Network Rail, told the Star: "The fencing around Thatto Heath station area has recently been replaced with like for like wire mesh fencing, following the theft of the original.

"Network Rail has also upgraded some stretches of fencing to palisade in recognised problematic areas of Thatto Heath.

"The area in the vicinity of Thatto Heath station does not enter the top 50 North West railway crime statistics, and is therefore not classed as a hotspot."