Selfies and stunts prompt level crossing closure

Images of selfie taking were captured last month at the crossing

People taking selfies and dancing on a railway line has resulted in the closure of a pedestrian level crossing.

The Wantage Road crossing in Grove, Oxfordshire, has been shut by Network Rail after a series of dangerous incidents.

Images taken last month at the site, on the Great Western Main Line, show people stopping on the tracks to take photos.

In 2022 children were spotted dancing on the route, where trains can reach speeds of up to 125mph.

Emma Barry, from Network Rail, said the "reckless and incredibly dangerous" behaviour was seen "far too often" at crossings.

"The number of unsafe incidents at this particular crossing has left us with no choice but to take action and close it before a tragedy happens," she said.

"The people in these photos not only put themselves at serious risk of death with their unsafe behaviour, they also put the safety of our staff and passengers at risk."

The closure comes as Network Rail and the British Transport Police launch a new campaign to raise awareness of accidental deaths on the railway, which are at a five-year high.

Network Rail said 24 people died in the UK as a result of preventable accidents on the railway last year.

Five of those deaths occurred at level crossings, while the remaining 19 involved people crossing the railway at unauthorised points.