Network Rail has closed 700 level crossings across Britain since 2009.

The company recently shut down the Moors Gorse crossing in Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, which meant around one in ten of the country's road/rail junctions have now been removed.

In many cases, bridges have been built in order to give pedestrians and cyclists an easier way to travel across busy lines.

This forms part of Network Rail's £130 million national level crossing investment programme and a significant number of intersections that have been scrapped were "user worked".

Such crossings can be dangerous and the company launched a nationwide campaign in May to raise awareness about safety on the railways.

Martin Gallagher, head of level crossings for Network Rail, said the firm is expecting to hit its target of closing 750 crossings by spring 2014.

"The surest way to remove the risk of someone being struck by a train at a level crossing is to close it," he commented.