SCHOOLCHILDREN are dicing with death at a York level crossing, which has been misused at least 25 times in the past year.

British Transport Police and Network Rail are today speaking to pupils from The Joseph Rowntree School and motorists using the crossing at Haxby Road and York Road, in Haxby.

PC Dave Knox, from British Transport Police, said children going to school would run across when barriers were coming down, and said he feared a fatal accident may happen.

He said: "People regularly try to run under the barriers as they are lowering, that is a stupidly careless act and waiting five more minutes at the crossing would prevent fatal scenarios.

"Our worst nightmare is children involved in a fatal accident, since there are schools around.

"In the morning school children will try and run across when the barriers come down and it's our worst nightmare.

"It can be a harrowing experience for everyone involved but, touch wood, we haven't had to experience anything like that yet."

Today's day of action came after 25 incidents were reported involving people running the red warning lights or dodging the barriers.

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 York Press:

Police and transport staff spoke to people about the dangers and told them they could be sent on a drivers' awareness course or fined depending on the severity of their crime.

Richard Crane, headteacher at The Joseph Rowntree School, pictured below, said: "We are very happy that Network Rail are taking the time and effort to speak to our students and members of the community about the importance of using the railway crossings in accordance with the controls and safety measures that are in place."

York Press: Richard Crane, the new head teacher at Joseph Rowntree School

The crossing is equipped with signs, audible alarms and red lights to warn vehicles and pedestrians a train is coming. There are also CCTV cameras on site directly accessible by the British Transport Police, but this has not stopped people taking their life in their own hands by weaving in between the barriers as a train is fast approaching.

Vicki Beadle, community safety manager for Network Rail, added: "We are not here to catch people out, we are here to work with them.

"The message is more about educating the community, users of the crossing and especially pupils of The Joseph Rowntree School.

"The majority of drivers use the crossing safely but there's a minority that aren't.

"A train travelling around here will need three quarters of a mile to stop if the driver spots something on the track."