THE holidays got into full swing today as thousands of East Lancashire children joined those who have already begun the big summer break.

For most, it will be a happy, carefree interval in their childhood.

But, too often, as this newspaper knows from its grim duty to report tragedy, the summer holidays are a time when children can be in mortal danger as play turns into peril.

And we see that today with the stark warning from Railtrack, urging head teachers as the summer break gets underway to deliver the message: "Don't play on the railway line."

Already this year, 16 children have been killed on the railways and hundreds of incidents of trespass and vandalism in Lancashire alone point to how often many others are dicing with that risk. But as children seek to fill the long summer days away from school with adventure, it is not just the railways that hold deadly dangers for them.

There are the canals, ponds, rivers, lodges, reservoirs, factory roofs and more - all of them lures for the daredevil and foolhardy. And all of them potential death traps.

The school holidays are no easy time for parents.

They cannot keep their eyes on their children all the time. But if they cannot ensure that their youngsters' outdoor activities are supervised, they should warn them now to stay away from the danger spots.

We have no wish to be reporting summertime tragedies in East Lancashire.

Tell them to play safely and make it a happy holiday.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.