NETWORK Rail has apologised after wrongly warning that a Selby level crossing will be closed to traffic and pedestrians for four days next week and again in March.

The organisation wrote to local residents earlier this month to say it needed to carry out essential improvement work at the Selby West crossing, which connects the two sides of the town at the junction of Brook Street and Doncaster Road.

It said: "This work will involve a full renewal of the level crossing, including new barriers and associated equipment. We will also be installing new railway location cabinets to the side of the crossing.”

It went on to say that to carry out the work, it had been granted a road closure, with a diversion route agreed with Selby District Council.

It added: “For safety reason there will be no pedestrian access. We will be working on the following dates/times. 25/02/2019 to 28/02/2019 07:00 – 16:00 each day. 04/03/2019 to 07/03/2019 07:00 – 16:00 each day. 16/03/2019 to 17/03/2019 22:00 – 08:00 17/03/2019 to 18/03/2019 22:00 – 08:00.”

The closure caused consternation in the town, with town councillor Steve Shaw-Wright saying it would leave people, particularly pensioners and children, struggling to to get from one side of the crossing to the other to shops, schools, the hospital and council offices, and facing a two-mile detour.

But now Network Rail has sent out an ‘amended notice,’ saying it was sorry but information contained in the previous letter had been incorrect, and it was aware this had caused concerns in the community, for which it apologised.

The letter said the organisation would be carrying out ‘various preparatory works’ at the crossing between next Monday and Thursday and March 4 and March 7, but no road closure would be required and full vehicular and pedestrian access would be maintained.

However, it said road and pedestrian access would be closed between 11.50pm on March 16 and 10am on March 17, and between 11.30pm on March 17 and 5.30am on March 18.

A spokeswoman told The Press: “Network Rail apologises for any confusion caused by the initial wrong information.”

Cllr Shaw-Wright said: "It's a bit farcical. Panto season is over - but not in Selby, it seems."