A man has been jailed for nine months for driving over a level crossing as a train approached.

Michael Burnhope ignored red flashing lights and alarm bells and overtook another motorist who had stopped as the barriers were lowered.

A signalman at the crossing near Eastbourne saw what was happening and stopped the barriers from coming down and trapping Burnhope's car on the line, a court heard.

Gabrielle Henty, prosecuting, said he was later traced by British Transport Police after checks were made on the car's number plate.

She said the builder's Ford Focus was behind another motorist as they approached the crossing at High Street, Polegate, in January last year.

Mrs Henty said: "The red lights at the crossing began to flash and the vehicle in front stopped.

"Burnhope accelerated and overtook the car on the wrong side of the road as the bells were sounding and the barriers began to come down.

"All this was seen by a signalman at the crossing and he halted the lowering of the barriers."

Terry Ballard, defending, said Burnhope had co-operated fully with the police when they contacted him and had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Mr Ballard said: "He accepts that what he did was reckless and totally irresponsible.

"He says this was a moment of madness, a split second decision which was a gross error of judgement. He is aware the court will take a very serious view of what he did and he has come with his bag packed."

Burnhope was jailed for nine months, banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended driving test when the ban ends.

Judge Anthony Niblett told him: "You put at risk the lives of the passengers on the approaching train.

"This was rightly described as a moment of madness"