THE level crossing in Grays straddles the High Street, and is used by substantial numbers of pedestrians throughout the day.

This might help to explain the behaviour of all too many people at the crossing. It does not make this behaviour any less crazy.

Startling CCTV footage shows a steady incidence of pedestrians who dodge round the closed barriers, and cross the line as trains approach.

Some even run to and fro between the barriers. There has been no accident to date at this site, but the record of people killed at Essex crossings, including three at Vange, further east on the c2c line, shows how lethal this activity can be.

Network Rail area director Steve Cassidy is so concerned he has raised the prospect of closure of the crossing. The prospect of sealing off an entire section of Grays town centre may seem far fetched, but this is a problem with which railway managers have to grapple.

One solution would be a blitz on abusers. A few convictions might make other impatient pedestrians think twice. But the effects would almost certainly be short-term.

The only satisfactory long-term solution will be the construction of a footbridge or subway. These are expensive items, but so is a death on the railway track. Pedestrians usually sit at the bottom of the pile when it comes to railway investment. In the case of Grays High Street, it is time to place them on top.