OFFICERS from British Transport Police will be at a notorious railway level crossing next week to hand out safety advice.

They will take up positions at Langley Green level crossing in Oldbury on Monday and Tuesday as part of a co-ordinated operation to offer safety advice and information to drivers and pedestrians. Langley Green has been identified by both police and Network Rail as a problem level crossing where motorists and pedestrians often ignore warning systems showing trains are approaching.

The operation will see officers help make people more aware of the dangers of misusing level crossings. It forms part of a Europe-wide initiative around level crossing safety and runs in conjunction with Network Rail’s Don’t Run the Risk campaign.

Insp Stuart Middlemas, of British Transport Police, said: “Some people are prepared to put their life and the safety of other innocent people at risk simply to save a few minutes at level crossings. A small minority are still prepared to run the risk to shave a couple of minutes off their journey.

“This sort of impatience is reckless and dangerous and we are working closely with Network Rail and other partners in the rail industry to address the problem.”