A 70-year-old Maidstone man will stand trial accused of driving without due care and attention after a signalman was badly injured at a level crossing.

Rodney Spicer of College Avenue denied the charge at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Spicer will next appear at the court on Wednesday, December 9.

The incident at the hand operated East Farleigh crossing in Farleigh Lane in April saw a railway worker hit by a gate as a train approached.

Doug Caddell, 62, from Folkestone was knocked to the ground leaving him unconscious with a severe head wound and a hangman’s fracture to two of his vertebrae.

Following the incident temporary traffic lights and crosshatching were put in place by Network Rail.

The precautions, which are due to stay in place until the end of July 2016, are causing traffic problems on the bridge, with motorists interpreting a green light as a right of way and assuming any oncoming vehicles have jumped a red light.

The lights are operated by two workers between 7am and 7pm and indicate green on both sides of the crossing when it is safe for drivers to proceed.