Police on patrol at controversial Shropshire level crossing

Officers are being stationed at the level crossing in Wem on Aston Street as part of Operation Look, a week-long national crackdown on drivers who ignore warning lights or lowering barriers.

The level crossing in Wem has sparked safety fears among councillors and residents after a number of signal faults caused its barriers to slam shut for long periods of time – once as long as three hours.

Many fear motorists and pedestrians are tempted to ignore the warning lights to avoid traffic because of the crossing's reputation, which can cause tailback traffic on a main route in and out of town.

Figures from British Transport Police show that over the last five years, from 2010-14, there were 164 crimes detected on the Wem level crossing.

Inspector Becky Warren said: "All too often people get into the habit of taking risks at crossings and our message is simple – use crossings safely.

"It may be tempting to jump a light to shave a minute or two off your journey, but every time you do, you endanger your life and the lives of other road and rail users.

"Fail to obey the signals and you may also end up with a driving ban or a criminal record. Is it really worth the risk?"

Meanwhile, the Rail Safety and Standards Board has revealed that the number of people killed through trespass or suicide on railways nationally rose for the third successive year in 2014.

The board said deaths from trespass and suicide totalled 320 last year compared with 315 in 2013.

Excluding trespass and suicide, there were 17 deaths on UK railways last year, including three passengers and three rail workers.

Two people died when their cars were struck by trains at level crossings and eight pedestrian users of level crossings died after being hit by trains.