A woman has called for more staff at train stations, after two young children were trapped inside a train without their mother.

June Ingham, of Kings Parade, Frinton, was on a day trip to Colchester with her sister-in-law, Julie Gregory, and her children Lochy, four, and Keeley, nine.

Police were called and Mrs Gregory panicked after a train left Colchester Town Station with Mrs Gregory’s two young children inside on their own.

Mrs Ingham said: “There could have been a paedophile, there could have been anything.

”It was a very frightening experience. The mother was hysterical, and the children were out of their natural environment, so they were quite traumatised.”

She explained that after arriving at Colchester Town, the children needed the toilet, but since there was no staff member there they were locked and unavailable.

She said: “A train assigned to Colchester stood empty at the platform with its doors open. My sister-in-law lifted the two children, who were by now quite distressed, on to the train to use the toilets while she gathered her shopping and made her goodbyes.

“Suddenly, the doors slid shut, and the train took off with the two youngsters inside.

“There were no staff on hand to help, or telephone numbers to use in an emergency displayed.”

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