A LORRY caused more than £7,000 worth of damage to the barriers at Ely railway crossing when its driver went on to the crossing as it was activated. The barrier hit the Turners of Soham lorry driven by Leslie Mothers, and it was ripped away from its moori

A LORRY caused more than £7,000 worth of damage to the barriers at Ely railway crossing when its driver went on to the crossing as it was activated.

The barrier hit the Turners of Soham lorry driven by Leslie Mothers, and it was ripped away from its mooring and carried 10 metres along the road.

At Ely courthouse on Thursday, 59-year-old Mothers, of St Anne's Way, Spalding, admitted driving without due care and attention on May 9.

Prosecuting, Matthew Bradbury said: "Unusually, this driver did not fall foul of the dreaded low level bridge, but of the crossing at the side of it."

It was 7.15am when the railwayman operating the crossing saw the lorry go on to the crossing, when it had no clear exit. The barrier started to lower, it hit the rear of the vehicle. Two subsequent trains were delayed.

"The lorry stopped too far into the crossing, and as the barrier fell he was in the wrong place, and could not go back because of vehicles behind him. He should have hung back and waited before proceeding," added Mr Bradbury.

This was the first time Mothers had used the crossing, said defending solicitor Ruth Barber. He had gone on to the crossing thinking that traffic would move forward, but accepted his exit had not been clear. The total cost of the damage had been paid by his company.

Mothers was fined £240 with £50 costs and four points were endorsed on his licence.