THE mother of teenager whose daughter was killed on a level crossing has urged people in a village north of Petersfield not to put their children's lives on the line.

Tina Hughes led the protests as dozens of parents and children gathered by Sheet Primary School last Saturday in support of plans to close the School Lane level crossing.

The concerned mother has backed similar campaigns around the country since her 14-year-old daughter, Olivia, and her friend died at the Elsenham crossing in Essex in 2005.

Network Rail wants to close the crossing with the permission of Hampshire County County as part of a national bid to improve safety on the railway.

They are keen to replace the crossing with a pedestrian footbridge but their plans, which were revealed more than a year ago, have spilt the village in half.

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.