AN INVESTIGATION is under way after a 12-year-old boy narrowly avoided being hit by a train at a level crossing.

An attendant at Wareham level crossing has been suspended and MP Michael Tomlinson has raised concerns with Network Rail and Dorset County Council over the future of the crossing.

Mum Delsa Lennox-Gordon claims her son, Cameron, and his friend could have been killed when a train guard opened the gates for them.

As they approached the railway line the member of staff suddenly shouted stop at them and moments later they watched the train whistle by them at close range.

Cameron returned home safely after the train had cleared the crossing and told his parents about what had happened.

Ms Lennox-Gordon said her son is now "living on a second life".

"It does not bear thinking about just how bad it could have been," Mrs Lennox-Gordon said.

"I was totally shocked when he came home and told me what had happened. You just keep asking yourself, what if? They could have been killed."

The incident is described as one of a number of near misses at the crossing, which has closed early on several occasions following the suspension of the crossing attendant.

A statement from Dorset County Council and Network Rail said the STM Group, which is responsible for supplying crossing attendants, has been unable to cover all his shifts.

Councillor Daryl Turner, Cabinet Member for the Natural and Built Environment said: "Unfortunately it is not as straight forward as deploying our staff to cover this shortage. Anyone working on a live railway has to be accredited by Network Rail, which is why we have to employ this company for our attendants.

"Last week we instructed STM to reduce the operation of the crossing to 8am to 6pm when there is only one attendant available to ensure that the crossing was open for the majority of users until full staffing of the crossing is back in place, but this attendant is now unwell and we are speaking with all concerned to try and agree a resolution.

"We appreciate that this puts anyone needing step-free access in an impossible situation, which is the position we have been trying to avoid for many years."

Mr Tomlinson, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said: "The safety of Wareham residents has to be a priority. That is the key reason to have an employee on duty at the level crossing.

"I have raised this serious and specific incident with both Network Rail and Dorset County Council and it is being investigated.

"I will continue to work with officials and the community to ensure that there is a crossing, which does not divide the town in two, which is accessible and, of utmost importance, which is safe."

The current level crossing by Wareham Railway Station has a long history and, following safety improvement requirements in 2009, has had a safety attendant monitoring the crossing and operating pedestrian gates between 6am and 1am (the following morning) when trains are scheduled to pass.

In the latest bid to provide step-free access over the railway line, highway engineers worked with Network Rail to design access ramps to add to the existing Grade II listed railway footbridge. This was refused planning by Dorset County Council’s Regulatory Committee on 14 June.

A sign is being displayed at the crossing when it is closed and @TravelDorset Twitter account is also being updated.