Media centre

Monday 1 Aug 2005

OSCAR THE ROBOT AND NO MESSIN’ LIVE HIT SLOUGH

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

| Southern

Up to 1,000 local children and Oscar the Robot are expected to attend the latest No Messin’ Live event when it hits Slough this week.  The event is part of Network Rail’s No Messin’ campaign, which aims to show young people fun ways to spend their time instead of playing on the railway.  During the two day event local children will have the opportunity to try a whole range of activities such as wrestling, DJ-ing, basketball and Kabaddi and will be quizzed by Oscar the Robot about railway safety. A spokesman for Network Rail said:  “All children want to have fun, particularly during the school holidays but the railway isn’t a safe place to play, particularly in the Slough area.  Hundreds of high speed trains use this stretch of line every day and unlike a car they can’t stop or swerve if someone is on the railway track.  No Messin’ Live is all about showcasing  fun, healthy alternative activities.  Hopefully local kids will be inspired by the event and stay away from the tracks for the rest of the summer and beyond” No Messin’ Live Slough is one of four events across the country organised this summer by Network Rail to target areas where railway crime is a particular problem.  Last year there were nearly 100 incidents of railway crime, trespass and vandalism in the Slough, Burnham, Taplow and Windsor areas, making it one of the country’s worst hot spots. This week’s event runs on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 August at the Montem Centre in Slough.  If media want to attend the event please contact the Network Rail Media Relations Team on 0207 557 8107