A tot's first train journey turned into a nightmare when he and his aunt became trapped in a deserted depot.

Three-year-old Jay Wylie has a fascination with trains and his aunt, Jennylyn, decided to take him on a real one as a special treat.

They set off from Stanford-le-Hope station, just before 6.30pm, expecting to go just one or two stops down the line - but ended up trapped on the train in East Ham.

City worker Jennylyn became so scared she pulled the emergency cord, and when no-one answered was forced to dial 999 on her mobile phone.

Police sent the driver, who had got off the train, back to open the doors and led Jennylyn and Jay to safety across the tracks.

LTS then laid on a complimentary taxi to take them back to Barking and the pair eventually got home about 8.30pm.

An LTS Rail spokesman said staff were investigating the incident, which may have involved a mistake by the Wylies.

Regardless of who made the mistake, a VIP trip will now be laid on by the firm for Jay.

Jennylyn, 23, of Rose Valley Crescent, Stanford-le-Hope, said: "There were guards on the platform at Stanford-le-Hope and I asked them where the train was going and they told me it was going to London.

"I was panicking in East Ham because no-one knew we were on the train, except for my sister-in-law, Vicky, and it was getting well past Jay's bedtime.

"I couldn't even open the doors of the train because they were automatic. If I hadn't had my mobile with me, I don't know what would have happened."

Les Powell, spokesman for LTS Rail, said the incident was still under investigation.

He said: "Somehow the lady and the boy got onto the train as it was about to be taken to the depot.

"People do get onto wrong trains, and until we have spoken to everybody involved we are not absolutely sure what has gone wrong.

"Clearly this was a special outing for the young lad, and we will put that right and organise a VIP trip for them both."

Wrong train - Jay and Jennylyn get stuck on an empty train

Picture: ANDY PALMER

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.