FUNDING could be made available for a new rail crossing at East Tilbury.

Thurrock Council has agreed to earmark funds for any work on the line, while Network Rail has also pledged to explore joint funding agreements.

East Tilbury and East Tilbury Village are currently served by one road - Princess Margaret Road - which is scythed in half by the level crossing at the rail station.

The barriers are down three or four times an hour - and will be down more frequently as freight trains begin trundling in and out of the London Gateway port which opened earlier this month.

Ward councillors have persistently called for the East Tilbury crossing to be looked at, with their calls falling on deaf ears.

At the beginning of November, Network Rail announced it would be replacing six level crossings in Essex with bridges or underpasses, but the crossing at East Tilbury was not one.

A spokesman for Network Rail said at the time that there is currently "no feasible business case" for replacing the crossing.

Two weeks ago, East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe held a rail summit, primarily to discuss the East Tilbury Crossing.

At the meeting, he revealed residents had complained about the crossing in their droves during a consultation he had held with 2000 people living in the town.

Now, a new crossing has moved a step closer.

John Purkiss, councillor for East Tilbury, said: "It seems things have moved on since the meeting with Network Rail last week when I was very disappointed with their attitude.

"Now they are acknowledging there is an issue and we have promises from both Network Rail and the Leader of the Council that a full study will be carried out.

"It is important that Cllr Barry Palmer and I are more involved in all meetings regarding the East Tilbury crossing as we can tell, first hand, why our crossing should be a priority."

Council leader John Kent said: "Issues with level crossings across the borough are well known and we have been working closely with Network Rail and c2c over the last 12 months to identify a range of solutions.

"One of the main areas of concern is in East Tilbury and I am delighted to say we have had a significant breakthrough in the last few days, with Network Rail.

"They have agreed to look at a joint funding agreement to investigate options to remove the existing crossing and I can also say the Thurrock Council has also identified funding for the work.

"This exploratory work will be carried out in the early part of the New Year."