THURROCK has been branded a trespassing hotspot after figures revealed there were 151 incidents in the past year.

This was the highest number for any local authority in East Anglia, with people risking their lives at level crossings.

Grays level crossing is rated as one of the most dangerous in the East of England, but the Gazette revealed in January how it could be replaced by a pedestrian underpass.

The figures were released as a new scheme to tackle the increasing number of people in Basildon and Thurrock risking their lives on the railway has been launched.

Network Rail has teamed up with British Transport Police, the English Football League Trust and StreetGames as figures have shown the number of people taking potentially fatal risks is on the up.

Bosses have revealed, nationally, there are 250 incidents a week of people messing about on the lines, taking short cuts and even selfies.

Southend United is one of the league clubs to get on board with the initiative.

Thurrock Council is pursuing plans to see the crossing on Grays High Street removed to prevent people from jumping the closed gates or using the level crossing as a means of avoiding paying fare.

The council has employed design firm Steer to collaborate with National Rail on the £27.4million underpass.

Rupert Lown, Anglia’s director of health, safety quality and environment (HSQE), said: “Children, and adults alike, continue to risk their lives by going onto the track and it has to stop. Last year,1645 people in Anglia went on the railway and each one could be a potential catastrophe leading to life-changing injuries or even death.

“Sport is a powerful vehicle for communicating with this hard-to-reach audience. Working in partnership with these sports charities across the hotspots in Essex, Cambridge, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Enfield, we hope to be able to reach children and teens in those communities most at risk with this incredibly important safety message.”

As well as Basildon and Thurrock, Southend also falls into the “top ten” of local authorities.