CCTV cameras captured locals having terrifying near misses with trains at level crossings across the UK.

Footage shows a teenager standing in the middle of the tracks, staring at a mobile phone.

Another clip shows a couple with a baby stroller ignoring warning alarms and proceeding unsafely.

A separate video captures a person crossing with a bike as a train approaches, narrowly avoiding being hit by seconds.

Network Rail reported 1,574 near-miss incidents involving pedestrians at level crossings over the past four years. Between April and May, these incidents increase by an average of 16 per cent.

Research shows that nearly half of people admit to making mistakes while distracted by their phones, with Gen Z and Millennials most affected.

Lucy Ruck, 47, who lost her leg in a railway incident at age 17, now campaigns for level crossing safety and urges the public to stay alert.

She said: 'The consequences of a split-second decision can be life-altering. Remember, no appointment or destination is worth risking your life for. Always look carefully and never assume it's safe to cross. It's better to be late in this world, than early in the next.'

Network Rail is urging everyone to stop, look, and listen at crossings, stressing that warning signs and barriers must always be followed.

Thomas Desmond, operations director at Network Rail, said: 'Level crossings demand your full attention, yet complacency and distraction are putting lives at risk, contributing to hundreds of dangerous near-misses annually.'