ENGINEERING work to upgrade one of the UK’s most dangerous pedestrian crossings has been hit by delays.

Wareham’s level crossing forced its way onto the parliamentary agenda last year amid growing safety concerns.

CCTV footage released by Network Rail, including pictures of one woman pushing a pram in front of a moving train, left county transport chiefs in no doubt improvements were needed.

But there was fierce opposition to plans to close the crossing between Wareham and Carey, as residents felt the move would effectively cut the town in two.

So Dorset County Council and Network Rail agreed to install electronic gates as a temporary measure.

However, work on these gates is still ongoing two months after they were due to be completed.

A county council spokesman explained: “Completion of work to install fencing, electronic gates and a staff shelter has been delayed owing to technical issues with the supply of the apparatus.

“We are currently awaiting confirmation of a completion date by the contractors.

“However, in the meantime there is no change in the operation of the crossing and the footbridge has been reopened following repairs by Network Rail.”

The footbridge was closed during the winter after sustaining serious frost damage.

The electronic gates will only open when it is safe to cross, remaining closed when a train is approaching.

Network Rail highlighted the crossing as the most dangerous in the South West with more than 80 recorded incidents of misuse in four years, including nine near misses in 2009.

During a House of Commons adjournment debate secured by local MP Annette Brooke, the then transport minister Chris Mole warned the risk of fatality was very high, should the crossing remain unmodernised.