A GRAYS Riverside ward councillor is supporting calls from residents living along the c2c railway line in the town, for urgent action to stop diesel freight trains from idling for long periods beside their homes.

Trains are regularly being held in the siding on the westbound approach into Grays, near Seabrooke Rise, and yards from the Community House where the Riverside Nursery operates from.

Engines are often left running for up to an hour at a time, during the day and late at night, filling the area with noise and diesel fumes.

Residents say the problem has become more frequent in recent months, with prolonged engine idling disrupting daily life and worsening already poor air quality.

In a letter to Network Rail, Cllr Valerie Morris-Cook has asked that freight operators be required to switch off engines while waiting for a signal to move.

A separate letter to the Rail Minister asks the Department for Transport to step in and ensure that both Network Rail and the freight companies meet their responsibilities to local communities.

Cllr Morris-Cook said:  "People accept they live near a busy railway, but they shouldn't have to live with the noise and pollution from trains sitting idle for an hour at a time. It's unnecessary, it's unhealthy, and it needs to stop.

"Residents want a commitment from Network Rail and the freight operators to reduce unnecessary idling, protect air quality, and show more consideration for families living alongside the railway".