A level crossing in Acton has been named as one of the worst in the capital for people jumping the lights and putting lives at risk.

There were eight drivers or pedestrians caught breaking the law at the crossing in Churchfield Road last year - two of which were classed as 'near misses' by Network Rail.

Only six other level crossing in London had more people jumping lights and dodging barriers.

The number of motorists and pedestrians who flout the law is at a five-year high, according to the rail operator, which is calling for tougher punishment as a deterrent.

Chief executive Iain Coucher said: "Every week we see people who ignore warning signs and lights or drive round barriers at level crossings just to save a few minutes. This behaviour has the potential for massive damage, disruption and death. We think that the judiciary penalties received need to reflect the seriousness of these crimes."

Last year there were 20 collisions around the country between trains and vehicles when drivers failed to beat the lights, and 15 people lost their lives on level crossings.

The warning comes at the same time as figures from the Health and Safety Executive which reveal the extent of injuries caused by trips and falls in Ealing last year.

One man -76-year-old Suchfield Johnson - died after falling from a balcony at a wake at Acton Town Hall after attending the funeral of a friend last June.

Two people in Ealing were hurt in a "group fall" and other injuries were caused by four high falls, 18 low falls and 150 slips and trips.

Marcia Davies, head of injury reduction at the HSE, said: "People often view slips, trips and falls as trivial incidents, even comical, but they are no joke to those who suffer major injuries, a lifetime of disability, time off work and, in the worst cases, death.

"We want to raise awareness of how these incidents can happen and how they can be easily avoided by taking common sense actions and precautions at little or no cost. If you spot a hazard in your workplace, deal with it - don't assume that somebody else will."