Police

The 36-year-old ignored red light seconds before a train passed on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway line

A 36-year-old woman has been found guilty of careless driving after she ignored a red light at a level crossing seconds before a train passed.

The woman, from Hawkinge, was summonsed to court following the near-miss on August Bank holiday last year on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway.

It was reported that she had driven over the crossing at Hull Road, Greatstone, seconds before a train heading to Dungeness had passed.

The driver of the train managed to take the registration number of the car and report it to police.

The woman pleaded not guilty at Folkestone Magistrates on Thursday, June 21, but was found guilty of careless driving and failing to comply with a traffic sign.

She was given nine penalty points, fined £165, and ordered to pay £350 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Sgt Jazz Bloomfield of the Shepway West Neighbourhood Team said: “Two RHDR train drivers have been killed in the past few years due to motorists ignoring the warning lights.

“We take this very seriously and will take action when people fail to drive responsibly. The message I would like to get across is, take extra care at the level crossings in the Romney Marsh.”