A CORONER yesterday said he hoped the tragic death of Toni Hannant on a railway line would be the last of its kind he would have to deal with - but added: "I very much suspect it will not be."

Andrew Tweddle was speaking after instructing a jury to rule that the 14-year-old had died accidentally when she was struck by a passenger train shortly before Christmas.

He said if anything positive should come of the hearing it was to "hammer home" the danger of railway lines.

An inquest, in Chester-le-Street, was told Toni died on the line near her home at Blackhall Colliery, County Durham.

She was walking with friends along the main rail line between Newcastle and Middlesbrough when the accident happened at 6.30pm on Friday, December 16.

British Transport Police Sergeant Nigel Ashworth said a group of youths had been walking alongside the railway track to get to a wooded area, where they used to congregate in the evenings to avoid disturbing residents.

They gained access through a heavy palisade fence that had been damaged when two bolts were removed - probably by adults wanting to gain access to the coastal side of the line.

Toni and some of her friends were leaving the area when a train approached. The group split up running in different directions.

Sgt Ashworth said: "Unfortunately, Toni was not able to get off the track in time and was struck and killed by the train."

Mr Tweddle said: "I want to make it absolutely clear, beyond any shadow of doubt, that there is no evidence to suggest Toni was misbehaving.

"This was not one of those situations where they were playing chicken or where people were drinking alcohol. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

He added: "I do wish this is the last time I will have to do anything like this - I very much suspect it will not be the last.

"If anything positive can be gleaned out of a case like this, it is to hopefully hammer home and reinforce the dangers of railway lines.

"It is a place for trains - not for people."

Sgt Ashworth said after the hearing: "There is someone in the area, as a result of the damage he or she has caused to the fence, who has the death of a child on their conscience."

A year ago, two boys, aged 14 and 15, died when they were struck by a train at Five Arches, in Darlington. Mr Tweddle conducted the inquests.

The tragedy prompted The Northern Echo to launch its No Messin' campaign, run in conjunction with Network Rail, warning of the dangers of playing on railway lines and to highlight alternative activities for teenagers.