A family have welcomed the closure of a "dangerous" rail crossing where four people have lost their lives.

Network Rail called for the “high risk” Glebe Way pedestrian crossing in Clifton Road to be closed following 33 incidents in the space of 18 years.

Kent County Council’s regulation committee made the decision to close the public right of way in Whitstable on Wednesday, which is used by hundreds of people each day.

Heather Wheeler was among those who spoke in favour of the closure, which has also been backed by city councillors including Ashley Clark and Brian Baker.

Ms Wheeler’s 14-year-old daughter Sacha, a Simon Langton student, was killed when she was hit by a train while using the Glebe Way crossing in 2015.

She spoke of the danger the route poses to young people and pupils at the town’s five primary schools - particularly older children who are given freedom to explore.

She said there is "overwhelming support" in the community for the crossing to close completely.

But many residents have also opposed the closure.

Members of The Whitstable Society also spoke at the meeting, arguing in favour of retaining the crossing.

They proposed that an electrically-operated gate - similar to the one in place at the St Dunstan’s crossing in Canterbury - should be installed, along with lights.

They also urged the county council to properly consider the option of installing a subway below the railway tracks, arguing that a bridge over the line could cause problems for wheelchair users.

“Any diversion, in the Whitstable Society’s view, is the worst option behind far better safety measures on the crossing, or a subway,” said a spokesman.

At the meeting chaired by Cllr Andrew Bowles, councillors voted four-to-one in favour of shutting the crossing, and a decision was made to make an order for its removal.

Speaking after the result, Ms Wheeler said: “There was overwhelming support from local young people, schools, and people with children in this town, for closing the crossing completely.

“People who live in this town are worried about their children. Children do not have the same developed sense of safety as adults.

“The crossing is essentially a gate to 750 volts of electricity.

“Those who wanted the crossing to stay said they could put lights in place, but there is always a possibility of mechanical or human failure. This has happened so many times on crossings.”

A Network Rail spokesman added: “Level crossings such as Glebe Way are a hangover from the past when noisy steam trains ran at slower speeds.

“Glebe Way is an unacceptable risk to the people who use it and the surest way to make it safe is to close it completely.

“The tragic death of Sacha Wheeler brings home just how important it is that we do this.

“We welcome the decision and we’re working closely with the council to get this crossing closed as soon as possible.”

People can still object to the order, which could see the issue go before the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

There are no plans to divert the path over a bridge, which some people were calling for.

Instead, the current alternative will be for pedestrians to use a crossing about 200 metres along the line.