AN image of a teenager laying across a railway track as part of a “planking” stunt has been condemned by police and those who take part in the online craze.

Planking, which began in Australia, involves people posting pictures of themselves laying flat on all manner of everyday objects.

Police criticised a picture that shows the teenager laying across the tracks.

A group set up on the Facebook website calling itself the York Extreme Planking Society, on whose page the picture was posted, said it did not condone such behaviour, calling it “stupid and dangerous”.

Member Jim Calverley said: “Those kids were participating in a stupid and dangerous activity that we do not agree with or approve of.

“Planking is a fun activity used by many including myself to explore and document places we visit.”

Another picture on the York page shows two girls laying on a zebra crossing in the middle of the road.

By Stuart Arnold and Andy Walker stuart.arnold@nne.co.uk A Facebook page based in Darlington encourages “plankers” to “show us what you are made of”.

It said: “We want to see your pictures. Please plank responsibly and safely.”

Planking T-shirts are also available, while rival groups have been set up on Facebook criticising the fad.

Some pictures showing those taking part appear genuine, but others are obviously faked.

A Network Rail spokeswoman branded the stunts ridiculously reckless. He said: “Modern trains are very fast and quiet, and someone on the track would have no time to get out of the way, and the driver would be unable to stop the train. It is also breaking the law and could be endangering rail users.”

A police spokeswoman said: “This was very dangerous behaviour that could have had serious consequences.

“With high-speed trains and electric currents, the railway should never be treated as somewhere to play or hang about.”