This is the moment ramblers scrambled to safety after crossing a railway track in front of an oncoming train - with one appearing to run over the lines despite seeing the locomotive juddering towards him.

The shocking incident is the latest in a series of near misses in Kent, which appear to coincide with a lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Network Rail released this footage to warn people to take care around railway lines

While barriers and lights are installed at many of the county's level crossings many rely on train drivers sounding their horns and the common sense on those using them.

The driver of the Blackfriars to Sevenoaks Thameslink service involved in the incident between Shoreham and Otford came so close to hitting the group of five he stopped, got out of his cab and went to check on them.

And days later a similar incident at nearby Seal saw another driver slam on his emergency brakes as a woman scurried in front of his engine.

Network Rail Southern region’s director of safety, Simon Morgan, said: “With the hot weather and greater numbers of people out and about, I’d really like to encourage everyone to remember to take care around our railway.

“We’ve made a lot of progress with safety at level crossings, including fitting hi-tech electronic train horn sounders to some, red and green lights and even closing a great many completely and replacing them with bridges.

"But we can’t get rid of all of them and it’s really important for people to always stop, look and listen, and stay off the railway in a place of safety until the train or trains have passed.”

Thameslink and Great Northern Train Services director Rob Mullen said: "These near-misses left our drivers feeling very shaken. Someone could easily have been seriously hurt or even killed. Please, please respect the railway and use these crossings sensibly."

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