Boy's train horror as mum is left on platform.

Byline: By Jamie Diffley

A frantic mother had an anxious wait after her young son boarded a Metro train and the doors shut on her.

Marie Nickells was dividing her attention between eight-year-old Matthew, three-year-old Joseph and baby David, asleep in the pram.

As Matthew boarded the train at Howdon 25-year-old Marie was trying to ensure Joseph would not run off. And when she tried to get on the train the doors closed, leaving her stranded at the platform.

Anxious Marie phoned police to report a missing child.

But luckily, a friend of Matthew's was on the train with his father. Mother and son were reunited less than 15 minutes later, two stops down the line at Wallsend.

Marie, of Wylam Gardens, Howdon, said: "I was really panicking when the doors closed. I started shouting and banging on the doors but the train drove off.

"I'd no idea Matthew found someone he knew. I'm just so glad everything was all right in the end.

"I felt terrible but I couldn't get on with two kids either side of the pram. Matthew got on first while I had hold of Joseph, but as I was tipping the pram back to get on the doors closed."

When the next train arrived Marie flagged down the driver and told him what happened. He radioed bosses and the message came back that Matthew had got off at Wallsend and was waiting for his mother.

A relieved Marie was reunited with Matthew moments later.

She said: "Matthew was shocked but seemed all right. But I can't get on another Metro at the moment because of Joe; he was hysterical and thought we'd lost his brother. I had to stay calm for him but was panicking inside - it was terrible."

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "We received a call about a missing youngster from a passenger at Howdon Metro station. By the time an officer arrived at Wallsend station the boy was reunited with his mother."

Last week the Chronicle revealed how a safety alert was sparked when three pupils remained on the Metro after a school trip.

The Kingston Park Primary School youngsters were on their way home after a trip to Newcastle United's St James' Park when they stayed on the Metro by mistake.

The rest of the group - 39 pupils escorted by a teacher and five parent helpers - got off at Monument, but three pupils, a girl and boy aged seven and a boy aged eight, were left on the train.

Driver Tony Storey found the pupils in the rear carriage, unaware of the fuss going on around them. Someone from the school arrived minutes later to pick them up after catching the following train from Monument.