RESIDENTS of a Dorset village featuring a railway crossing identified as 'high risk' are invited to a drop-in session about proposals to change it.

Members of the Network Rail team will be onhand to answer questions and update residents on the proposed bridge earmarked for Wool railway station.

Rail chiefs want to close the footpath level crossing at the village, replacing it with a stepped footbridge.

They say the current crossing has been identified as 'high risk' due to the numbers of trains passing through and poor visibility for both train drivers and crossing users.

Network Rail project manager Andrew Latimer explained: "Every time a footpath or a road meets the railway, there is a risk and it is our aim to reduce this as much as we can.

"We have closed more than 900 level crossings in the last five years and we know the safest level crossing is a closed one.

"We believe the new footbridge offers the safest option for the community to cross the railway. We look forward to sharing our plans with the community and to answer any questions they may have."

If the scheme gets planning permission, the project should take no longer than six months to complete, says Network Rail.

Network Rail has pledged to invest £100million in the next four years to reduce risk at level crossings and improve safety.

The drop-in session is scheduled for the D'Urberville Centre, Colliers Lane, Wool, on September 15, between 2-8pm.

For further information about the project, call Network Rail's 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.