People using railway bridge as 'dangerous shortcut'
Multiple incidents, some of them involving older people or dog walkers, have been recorded a stretch of line near Dingwall where trains frequently pass through at speeds of up to 65mph.
Network Rail said people were using the bridge as a means of crossing the River Peffery between the town's Canal South and North level crossings.
It described the trespassing as "deeply concerning.
More stories from the Highlands and Islands
News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds
Innis Keith, of Network Rail Scotland, said: "It's extremely dangerous as trains can't stop quickly or swerve out of the way.
"A moment's misjudgement could have devastating consequences.
"Not only is trespassing dangerous, but it's also illegal."
Network Rail is working with British Transport Police (BTP) to identify the trespassers.
Ch Insp Adam Swallow, of BTP, said: "Every year, my emergency services colleagues and I are faced with the awful consequences of preventable railway accidents.
"And we don't just respond, we remember too.
"Behind every statistic is a real person - a life needlessly lost or irreversibly changed and a family left devastated."
British Transport Police
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man charged with malicious mischief after ‘Stone of Destiny case smashed'
A man has appeared in court charged with 'malicious mischief' following reports the glass case containing the Stone of Destiny was broken. It follows an incident at Perth Museum on Saturday afternoon, where visitors reported a man in a kilt attempting to smash through the case containing the ancient artefact, which has long been associated with the monarchy. Police said they had arrested and charged someone following a 'disturbance' at the museum, which has the sandstone block as its centrepiece exhibition. On Monday, 35-year-old Arnaud Harixcalde Logan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court facing a single charge of malicious mischief. His address was listed as Sydney, Australia. No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody, with the next appearance due to take place in eight days. In Scots law, malicious mischief is an offence which deals with behaviour which damages or destroys the property of another, similar to vandalism. The artefact, also known as the Stone of Scone, was moved to Perth Museum in 2024 as part of a £27 million redevelopment. It has been associated with the Scottish and UK monarchies for centuries. The Stone of Destiny was used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and also in the coronation of the King in 2023. It was formally returned to Scotland in 1996 to go on display at Edinburgh Castle. A Police Scotland spokesperson said earlier: 'At around 1.55pm on Saturday 12 July, 2025, Police Scotland received a call regarding a disturbance at Perth Museum. 'A 35-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Friend of Sutton Park drowning victim urges three changes after new tragedy
The friend of a boy who died 24 years ago in the same lake where a teenager died this week has called for three key changes to keep kids safe. Ricky O'Neill was friends with Frazer Amiss, a 15-year-old who lost his life in Powell's Pool in Sutton Park on Sunday, July 29, 2001. Fraser was trying to get to a sea cadet's boat moored in the middle of the pool, when he got into difficulties and drowned. READ MORE: 'Beautiful grandson' remembered by nan after Sutton Park tragedy Back then a water rescue team had to come from Nottingham to Sutton Coldfield when the alarm was raised at around 7pm but the teen's body was not recovered until Monday, July 30. Frazer's friend, Ricky O'Neill said this week's tragedy in Sutton Park was 'history repeating'. Daniel Drewitt, 16, got into difficulties in Powell's Pool, on Thursday night at around 6pm. The teenager could not be saved and his body was recovered shortly after 10pm. Ricky said the news 'brought the memories flooding back'. The 39-year-old lived close to Fraser - Ricky in Eastern Road in Boldmere and Fraser in Highbridge Road. They both went to John Willmott School, caught the bus together and spent a lot of time at each other's houses. They also shared the same birthday, August 29. READ MORE: Boy who died at Sutton Park lake named as school pays tribute Ricky said: 'Frazer was at my house that day. I remember saying to him 'don't go in the lake'. 'But he went with a friend of ours. 'I had a phone call about Frazer and went to the next-door neighbour and they dropped me down here [at Sutton Park]. 'I sat down by the lake for hours and hours. 'Frazer's dad, Darren, went in the water. There were fire officers here too. 'And today is just like that day.' Ricky continued: 'I saw the news on Friday morning and all the emotions came back. 'Over there where the cows are [the cows were sat by the side of Powell's Pool which the night before would have been within the police cordon], that's where we put the flowers. 'It brought back all the memories. 'I spoke to Darren, Frazer's dad. He wanted me to mention the diving team set up in Frazer's memory but it didn't carry on due to funding. There was a patrol in the summer. 'Today is history repeating.' READ MORE: Dad whose aunt and friend died at Sutton Coldfield lake calls for action Ricky, a dad of two with girls aged seven and 12, said: 'Many people have said 'it's brought back memories'. 'As soon as they saw the story of this, they thought of me and the lads and Frazer. 'On the way down here my eyes started going. When I saw the news I cried. It was the pictures of the emergency services. 'Frazer was a top lad. He liked music and boxing – they set up the Frazer Amiss Boxing Club 'It was strange not having him there. What happened to him affected me and motivated me. I want to help people.' Ricky runs a club called the Bearded Brummies which raises money for charities, particularly for men's mental health charities, and Birmingham MIND. He said: 'I have broken down lots of times over it. Everyone copes differently. At the time there was no help for us. We were left to ourselves. 'I am now thinking is there anything we can do for the lad's friends. The boy's friends have to stick together and get and take help. 'On my 30th birthday I did a fundraiser for the diving team. For the city the size of Birmingham we haven't got our own search and rescue team. 'The lake has hidden currents, items in there and other things you don't want to come into contact with.' Get the latest Sutton Coldfield news delivered direct to your inbox Ricky called for three things to happen to help stop future tragedies. He said: 'Before finishing school for the six-week holidays, teachers should raise awareness of the dangers of being around lakes and water. 'If they are thinking of going in the water, just don't do it. I didn't even go in the sea until four years ago. 'I think they also need to have someone patrol the lake on a hot day and every day in the six-week holiday to make sure people don't go in there. 'A couple of years ago I saw some kids on the boat and told them to get out, which they did. 'And we said years ago that boat needs to be removed. That's what attracts the kids.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man who murdered girlfriend before texting her mother pretending to be her jailed
A man who murdered and decapitated his girlfriend before texting her mother pretending to be her and searching for internet pornography has been jailed. Ewan Methven was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years behind bars on Monday after admitting murdering his 21-year-old girlfriend Phoenix Spencer-Horn. Methven murdered her in the home they shared in East Kilbride on 16 November 2024. He also admitted decapitating her body and texting her mother, pretending to be her. Methven, who is now 27, killed Ms Spencer-Horn after the couple ordered a takeaway. Earlier that day, he had complained to his girlfriend that her waitress shifts made him 'lonely'. The High Court in Glasgow was told that Methven attacked Miss Spencer-Horn, stabbing her 20 times, including 10 times in the face, before mutilating her body and severing her head. Methven had also strangled her, searched for internet pornography 170 times and made repeated attempts to buy cocaine, before spending the weekend driving around in Miss Spencer-Horn's red Corsa, and texting her mother pretending she was still alive, according to prosecutors. He texted: 'Hey sorry I've just woken up xxx' before searching for pornography, the court heard. On 18 November, at about midday, he dialled 999 and told a call-handler: 'I had a psychotic break and killed my wife.' He said: 'We were messing about, I take steroids and was taking cocaine and alcohol, I think there was something else in it … it was f****** horrible.' He was transferred to a senior police officer, and said: 'I just want to go to jail', and added: 'I have been out my face, I can't remember what happened. I have been driving about all weekend.' Police officers discovered Miss Spencer-Horn's mutilated body hidden under a towel. Methven admitted attempting to remove the limbs and torso from her body with a knife or other instrument. Defending, Tony Graham KC, said, in 2024, Methven realised he had an addiction problem, and had written a letter to the judge saying 'in relation to the harm that could cause, it could only be harm to himself', regarding cocaine, steroids and other drugs. Mr Graham read from the letter, which said: 'I know how loved Phoenix was and how she made her family complete. I can't believe I've taken her from them.' He told the court: 'Mr Methven is in a position where he can offer no explanation as to why the course of events which led to Phoenix's death took place, other than his own self-administration of drugs.' He said that Methven 'insists he has taken the life of a person he loved, and appreciates he has caused an enormous void in that family', and 'struggles to reconcile how he could have caused that destruction', the court heard. Mr Graham said that Methven had been 'taken into family home of Phoenix's family and appreciates in that that two-year period he was adopted into that family', and described the murder as 'a betrayal', the court heard. However, he said Methven could not explain why it happened, and added: 'He has flashbacks but no real memory as to how things progressed to this destruction of human life.' Imposing a life sentence, Judge Lord Matthews said Methven had admitted a 'truly dreadful crime'. Lord Matthews said: 'At 21 years old, she was standing at the threshold of what should have been a long and fulfilling life. You were a trusted member of her family but betrayed that trust. 'For reasons no one will ever understand you strangled her and stabbed her 20 times, including 10 in the face. You robbed her of all dignity in death by decapitating her and trying to dismember her. 'For two days after, you indulged in drug abuse and watching pornography, contacting her mother and pretending to be her.' He added: 'The way you treated this innocent young woman after her death meant her family did not have the comfort of saying goodbye to her.' The judge told Methven: 'The letter by you answers none of the questions which must be plaguing the family. You blame the effect of substances but that is no excuse.'
