Warning to youngsters trying to catch '˜em all

Doug Rouse, 72, has lived at Station House at the Market Rasen Railway Station 
for the last 11 years.

But in the last few weeks, a worrying phenomenon has started to develop as children - some as young as six years old - have been wandering dangerously close to the edge of the train platform.

The youngsters have been searching for Pokemon on the popular augmented reality game, Pokemon Go, in which players can find and capture virtual creatures 
in the ‘real world’ using 
their mobile phone’s GPS and camera functions.

Mr Rouse warned that the platform has a three foot drop and that some youngsters seem to be oblivious to the dangers around them.

Mr Rouse said: “I’m not a spoilsport but the last few weeks have been 
very hectic.

“Some of the goods trains go through the station at 60 mph.

“I feel it is an accident waiting to happen.”

He added: “I would advise that parents have a little word with their children and tell them to stay against the station wall - not near 
the platform. I don’t want to see anybody being killed up here.

“They’re not bad kids in this town but they can sometimes just be oblivious (while playing Pokemon Go).”

In addition to the safety fears, Mr Rouse added that it has been annoying for him as a resident at the station.

He said: “People seem oblivious to me. Hundreds of people have turned up here to search for Pokemon, and only two people have acknowledged me.

“It has been annoying and it upsets my dogs when kids come up to my gate.

“I love living in this spot and usually it’s one of the 
most peaceful areas of town.”

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police have warned Pokemon players to be vigilant after dealing with a string of phone thefts from people playing the hit game 
across the country.

An officer dealt with two phone thefts relating to the game in just one day, and a teenager in Manchester was also arrested after three students were robbed of their phones as they played the game last week.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has also warned users’ safety could be at risk when playing the game.

Ross Penstone-Smith, Policy Adviser for General Insurance at the ABI, said: “Playing Pokemon Go shouldn’t mean letting 
go of your senses.

“It’s important to remember that mobile phone users should always have their wits about them, drive carefully and watch out 
for hazards.

“While insurers will be there to help customers when they have accident or are victims of crime, it’s best for everyone if risks are avoided in the first place.”