A SIX-YEAR-OLD diabetic girl was stranded on a railway platform after police and rail staff failed to respond to emergency calls.

Orpington girl Abbea Jackson was heading home from a day out with her mum and dad when a mix-up meant she was left on a platform at Lewisham Station.

As the train pulled away, the youngster's dad Ashley frantically pulled the emergency cord and dialled 999. But police were too busy to attend and Connex staff were nowhere to be seen.

Mr Jackson, 35, said: "She was terrified and cried for an hour afterwards. The only help we got was from members of the public.

"It defies belief that they could just leave a six-year-old like that."

Inspector Janet Earle, of the British Transport Police, confirmed officers were too busy to respond.

She said: "Minutes after receiving the emergency call, a member of the public called to say he was willing to stay with the girl. It was a judgement call and he sounded genuine."

The incident happened on August 29 when the family, from Thyer Close, were returning from Chessington World of Adventures on the 9.22pm from Waterloo East.

They found a carriage with a toilet because Abbea needed the loo but were forced to leap off at Lewisham and run up the platform to another carriage because it was out of order. In the confusion, Abbea was left behind.

Another passenger drove them back from Hither Green where they found their daughter being looked after by a woman and two men.

Connex says it cannot explain why the emergency cord did not work and has launched a full investigation.

Spokesman Dave Ewart said: "Lewisham is a staffed station so we will be looking into why they did not take care of the girl but it is too early to speculate."

Mum Kate Neaves, 38, thanked those who helped and said: "The people of Lewisham were lovely and very helpful."

September 3, 2001 14:44