Motorists who ignored flashing warning lights and alarms and drove across a notorious level crossing in north Shropshire have been fined and had penalty points put on their licences.

Cases against two drivers involving Wem level crossing were heard at Market Drayton Magistrates Court yesterday. They are the latest motorists to face punishment in the courts over the use of the crossing.

Network Rail has identified Wem as the sixth most abused level crossing in Britain.

Richard Thomas Corfield, of Butcher Row, Condover, near Shrewsbury, admitted failing to comply with flashing light signals at the crossing.

The court heard the 26-year-old drove a Peugeot across the tracks on April 1.

In mitigation, Corfield said it was easy not to see the lights but he vowed to take extra care in future.

Magistrates fined him £100 and ordered him to pay a £15 victim surcharge. His driving licence was endorsed with three penalty points.

Absence

Christopher Robin Garratt, of Noel Hill Road, Cross Houses, near Shrewsbury, also admitted failing to comply with flashing light signals at the crossing.

The case against Garratt was dealt with in his absence and offered no mitigation.

Magistrates were told he drove a Peugeot across the level crossing after the warning lights had begun to operate on May 5.

The 55-year-old was ordered to pay a £115 fine and a £15 victim surcharge. His driving licence was also endorsed with three points.

Over the last year British Transport Police and Network Rail officials have been educating drivers about how to safely use the level crossing to reduce the number of motorists ignoring the warning signals.

Transport Police have spent days there speaking to drivers and handing out safety leaflets warning them of the dangers and penalties for not complying.

It follows a crackdown by the BTP and Network Rail, which was launched last August, after figures showed 69 motorists were caught on camera breaking the law at the site since April last year.

By Tom Johannsen