TRANSPORT police have released shocking footage of the moment a train nearly collided with a car.

The driver was said to have made a 'dangerous assumption' at the open level crossing near Park House Farm in Barrow. 

British Transport Police shared the footage in an effort to raise awareness of the potential hazards of level crossings. 

Bury Times:

In the clip, a train passes over the level crossing at the farm and the driver of a red car begins to move forward, not noticing another coming past in the other direction.

With the train advancing, the vehicle makes it safely across the crossing, narrowly avoided it.

British Transport Police Lancashire said on social media: "Near miss. "This is the moment a car driver at an open level crossing (farm crossing with no barriers) made the dangerous assumption that because one train had passed that it was safe to cross. It wasn’t!"

Officers said the driver had opted to to take level crossing awareness course following the incident, which happened in October.

It cost the driver £84 instead of a £100 fine and three points on their licence.

BTP Lancashire officers added: "Car driver education is important in reducing these incidents.

"Sometimes education is more important than prosecution, and this is particularly so with level crossing offences.

"Our approach is very similar to that taken with the speed awareness Courses local police forces offer."

The courses explain the dangers and consequences of near misses at level crossings.