Next stop, the

A MAN perched on top of a railway arch poses for a photograph just seconds before a tram hurtles past beneath him.

Metrolink chiefs have said the stunt was ‘reckless behaviour’ and risked the safety of passengers.

These shocking images appear to show two people sat atop the huge metal structure directly beneath live wires. A shirtless figure can be seen pushing themselves up with their arms onto the metal structure as another person stands on the edge of the bridge, facing directly opposite and pointing what appears to be a camera.

The second of the two images, which were sent to the M.E.N. by a Twitter user, then shows the first figure standing with their arms outstretched directly above a moving tram.

Although they were not on the Metrolink infrastructure the tram driver made an external announcement to them that they were on CCTV and that police had been called, which prompted them to leave the area.

It is not clear how the two trespassers gained access to the tracks and managed to climb into the bridge structure.

TfGM’s head of Metrolink, Danny Vaughan, said: “While not directly on Metrolink, as clearly evident from the pictures there are passing trams and live electrical overhead lines nearby, so I can’t fathom how anybody can think this is an acceptable thing to do.

“Such reckless behaviour is not only dangerous for trespassers but risks the safety of passengers and staff too.

“It’s worth stressing that this is a criminal offence and all such incidents are reported to police, as was the case on this occasion.”