RAILTRACK was accused last night of putting lives at risk amid growing concern over the problem of animals wandering on to railway lines.

Three heifers were recently killed by an early morning train on the Whitby to Middlesbrough line, which runs through the Esk Valley in North Yorkshire.

Farmer Lawrie Martin, of Commondale, says that 12 cattle have been killed on a six-mile stretch of the line in the past year between Kildale and Castleton.

The deaths have been blamed on poor maintenance of railway fencing, for which Railtrack is responsible.

Last night, Ernie Preston, secretary of the North-East Rail Passengers Committee, said: "Cows, sheep and other such animals clearly should not be on the railway line and it is Railtrack's duty to repair any fencing where there is a problem.

"A train striking cattle has the potential to be derailed, with the risk to lives that would result."

Mr Preston said that incidents of animals coming into contact with trains were a worry for the committee.

Linda Lloyd, who owns the land the heifers were grazing on, said: "I have complained to Railtrack for months about the fencing, for which it is responsible. The standard of maintenance is appalling.

"Sheep and cattle can easily get through it. I warned Railtrack there would be an accident and stock killed.

"The train that hit the heifers was so badly damaged that it had to be towed away."

A spokeswoman for Railtrack said "We can confirm that cattle have been killed on the line. Fencing has been renewed in order to avoid future incidents and this is stock-proof, using concrete posts and seven strand wire."