THERE are more than 1,600 rail crossings in the UK of the type at Pools Crossing, Charlton, according to Network Rail, the organisation responsible for maintaining track.

Callum Collins, press officer with Network Rail, said: "It's a type of crossing that only exists on private land, not public road."

He explained: "The way this crossing operates is that people drive up to the gates. They're then supposed to call the signalman in the signal box - in this case, at Evesham. They ask if they can cross and they're given the go-ahead."

He added: "There's a large sign that says 'stop' and there's a phone."

Mr Collins said that all calls into the signal box were recorded. There are 462 of the crossings in the area covered by First Great Western.

"All of these are on private land because the railways were built across people's farms," said Mr Collins.