A SEDATE tourist attraction it may be — but according to website page, Lynton and Lynmouth's cliff railway is one of the 'Top 10 Most Dangerous Railroads in the World!'

The water-powered masterpiece of Victorian engineering has been a tourist attraction between the two picturesque villages since it was built in 1888.

But the spam blog, or 'splog', called 'Most Interesting Facts' puts it at Number Five in its Top Ten, alongside the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Train, in South Africa, which appears to cross a beach on the Indian Ocean, and the White Pass and Yukon Route, in Alaska — built during the Klondike Gold Rush.

Internet media consultant Simon Bugler explained: "A spam blog is set up to capture traffic in the hope that people click on the adverts and generate money — they are getting very clever these days, automatically copying and rewriting content. It's surprising how much money you can make by doing these sites — and its definitely worth it for the poorer countries — they may even be sitting there day in, day out, creating what is essentially rubbish."

In this particular 'splog,' the cliff railway also rates alongside the Chennai Rameswaram Route in India, which, the website claims, runs "through the centre of a dangerous whirlwind."

The top spot is taken by the Aso Minami route in Japan — built close to an active volcano, which is liable to erupt at any moment!

But thrill-seekers may be a bit disappointed with the real thing, after reading that the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway has been likened to a roller-coaster!

A bemused Ceri Hughes — company secretary for the Lynton and Lynmouth tourist attraction, laughed: "I can't see how anyone could describe it as dangerous!

"We have an exemplary record and have never had an accident in 120 years.

"All the regulations are adhered to, with safety barriers at regulation height, so no-one could fall over — they would have to climb up to get over them.

"And we had a Health and Safety inspection last year which said we were one of the safest in the country!"

He said that one or two visitors had been a bit nervous in the past, if they were afraid of heights, "but that's because it does look a long way down.

So thrill seekers had better head for the nearest theme park and leave Lynton and Lynmouth to the hundreds of visitors who enjoy a more... stately ride!