Seconds from disaster, woman who wouldn't use a railway bridge

A woman narrowly avoids being crushed by a train as she jumps across railway tracks.

Police have released the footage to warn young people of the dangers of trespassing on the rail network.

The CCTV images, taken at Abbey Wood station, show the woman jumping down from one platform, walking across live 750-volt rails and then trying to scramble on to the platform at the other side.

She struggles to get off the tracks as the train approaches before being pulled to safety by a passer-by only five seconds before the train arrives. British Transport Police pointed out the woman could have used an overhead footbridge at the station.

Pc Graham Cottingham, schools liaison officer, said: "I go into schools and talk to pupils all the time about doing the same sort of thing.

"When adults go and do this quite openly it sends out the wrong message to young people. It is a very stupid - and wrong - thing to do."

He added: "Parents should be aware of what their children do over the summer holidays and advise them this is not acceptable behaviour and could have very grave consequences. I want youngsters to enjoy the holidays but stay alive in time for the new term in September."