POLICE have interviewed another two children who risked their lives by taking part in a dangerous “bus surfing” craze.

Three boys were photographed hitching a ride on the back of a moving bus in Darlington last week.

Police warned that children were risking their lives by taking part in the game, and one mother reported her own son to the authorities, after recognising him when the photograph was published in The Northern Echo.

Now police have tracked down the other two children who took part.

PC John Forster said officers have spoken to their parents to warn them of the danger.

“Hopefully, not too many children are doing this, but we know this was not an isolated incident,” said PC Forster.

“We have had to deal with quite a number of incidents like this recently.

“Everyone now hopes that this has gone as quickly as it came about.”

Young children have been daring each other to catch lifts on the back bumpers of buses as they make their way around the town. In some cases, youngsters challenge each other to see who can hold on the longest.

PC Forster said children can be prosecuted for taking part in the dangerous game.

“We don’t want 12-year-olds to end up with criminal records for the rest of their lives, but we can class this as a criminal offence,” he said.

“If our warnings are ignored, they may find themselves before the courts.

“This is obviously extremely dangerous – especially in slippy conditions like we have had recently. Children could easily be badly injured or worse.

“We don’t want a fatality.

Children should think twice about the stress this kind of behaviour puts on their families.”

Police Community Support Officers Craig Murray and Christopher Smith are to talk to pupils at Darlington’s Longfield School to warn them about the dangers at an assembly next week.

PC Forster added that the local council arranges a number of activities for young people to keep them occupied and out of trouble.

He said: “Of course children can get bored at times, but there are lots of things for young people in Darlington to do. The council really pushes itself to organise things, and children should look to take part if they are looking for something to do.”

Events for young people in Darlington are advertised on the website clicktodo.co.uk