Rap star Professor Green in ‘Lose Your Headphones’ campaign (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rap star Professor Green in ‘Lose Your Headphones’ campaign

3:40pm Thursday 16th August 2012 in News By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

RAP star Professor Green is at the forefront of a new campaign designed to ensure young people are not ‘lost in music’ around level crossings in East Lancashire.

Rail bosses are launching a new online campaign – Lose Your Headphones – urging music lovers to pay more attention when negotiating the tracks at several key locations across the region.

Level crossings figure heavily along the East Lancashire lines, from the gates near Huncoat and Brierfield stations, to the Barkerhouse Road point, in Nelson.

But there are also more secluded spots, such as Hufling Lane, in Burnley, Gregson Lane, in Hoghton, and Station Parade, in Cornholme.

Nationwide there have been two level crossing deaths attributed to people wearing headphones at the time.

Professor Green said: “I never imagined asking people to stop listening to my music, but this is about staying safe so, just for a minute, I want them to stop.

“I know it’s very easy to get caught up in a track when you have headphones on, and get distracted from where you are, and what’s around you, but I’m asking, please, lose your headphones when at a level crossing, and pay attention to all the safety warnings.

“I don’t want anyone to end up on the tracks listening to one of mine.”

The Remedy singer will feature in a video being released online, via the Spotify network and Twitter Martin Gallagher, Network Rail’s head of level crossings said: “People wear headphones all the time – on the train, walking down the street, and even cycling, or in the shops. We think, though, there are times when it makes sense to stop the music and devote your full attention to where you’re going.”

Researchers at Salford University are concer-ned that modern headphones distract users by blocking out any ambient noise from the surrounding area.

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