THE barriers at the Poole level crossing failed to descend this morning.

Shoppers in the High Street were left bemused when the lights and sirens at the crossing sounded but the barriers remained upright at around 10.10am.

Eventually the waiting train moved very slowly across the crossing. After some 10 minutes the barrier was restored to working order and a second train moved through as normal.

A spokesman for Network Rail said such failures were not uncommon.

"What happens when that occurs is the signalman will talk the train through," she said.

"The signalman will make sure the crossing is clear before the train comes through very, very slowly."