A LEVEL crossing is finally to be upgraded, two years after a three-year-old child was nearly hit by a train.

The crossing at Allens West train station, near Yarm, only has two half-barriers at present and local councillors have heard of two near misses involving children.

The first in 2011 involved the mother of a three-year-old boy who managed to grab her son as he was about to walk in front of a train at the Durham Lane crossing in the Eaglescliffe area.

That prompted Liberal Democrat councillors for the area, Maureen Rigg and Alan Lewis to campaign to make the crossing safer.

Assurances were given by Network Rail but in the meantime an eight-year-old, rushing to catch up with friends, was also very nearly hit.

However this weekend Network Rail engineers will finally install new, full barriers which will cover the whole road.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “This crossing sees a lot of use and these improvements will help everyone to use it safely.”

Councillor Lewis said: “We are very relieved it’s finally happening. It has taken two years of strong pressure to get it upgraded.”