Highland level crossing where teenagers died to be closed

The crossing is to be replaced by a section of new road and a bridge

A railway level crossing which has been the scene of fatalities is to be closed and replaced by a new road bridge.

Two teenagers died at the Delny crossing near Barbaraville in Easter Ross in February 2007.

Paul Oliver and Alan Thain, both 17, were passengers in a car which collided with a train.

Network Rail's plans for the crossing have been recommended for approval by Highland Council officials.

The local authority's north planning applications committee will consider the proposals at a meeting next week.

Safety measures were previously added to the site, but Network Rail said it continued to present a "significant risk" to trains and people using the crossing.

Since 2010, the company has been working through a programme of reducing risk at level crossings, including closing more than 1,000 sites.

The Delny proposals form part of that work.

Under the plans, the crossing would be closed and a section of new road built with a bridge taking it over the tracks.

Richard Fleming, the teenage driver of the car in 2007's fatal crash, was given a five-year custodial sentence after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

He later took part in a Network Rail film used to educate drivers of level crossing dangers.