The grim prediction came from Sgt Andrew Roberts, of the British Transport Police (BTP), who said in the past two months there had been two serious and several more minor incidents of vandalism on train tracks in the area, including metal poles being used to block points on the track, and a metal skip-type container being dumped on the rails.

He told the Express the vandals were putting their own and others' lives at risk, adding: "It will inevitably end in me going to a parent's home to tell them their child is dead."

For more on this story see tomorrow's Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express.

Also in this week's paper:

- Superdrug staff down tools in South Elmsall on the first day of an all out strike.

- a South Kirkby man is found guilty of child sex offences.

- An emergency meeting has been called following a spate of arsons in South Kirkby.

- We take a look at fighting the flab in a special Obesity Week report.

- Traders back a possible re-location of Hemsworth Market.

- We reveal the results of a by-election for Upton and North Elmsall Parish Council.

- Mourners say farewell to Hemsworth miner Ian Cameron.

- A Kinsley pensioner says she is 'sick' of being targeted by vandals.

- We launch a campaign with the Prince of Wales Hospice to help you 'light up the life' of a lost loved one this Christmas.

For all this and more see this week's Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express.

For all the latest and breaking news visit http://www.hemsworthandsouthelmsallexpress.co.uk