A BUS driver is under investigation after a double-decker smashed through a level crossing barrier causing traffic gridlock.

Witnesses said the Bluestar bus failed to stop when a safety barrier came down at the crossing in Junction Road, Totton at about 9am on Friday.

Network Rail engineers were called to the scene to replace the snapped barrier. The busy road had to be closed for the repairs The work caused long tailbacks for motorists. Trains passing through the crossing were slowed down.

The Lymington to Southampton bus had one passenger on board. No-one was injured and the bus was not seriously damaged.

British Transport Police said they were investigating the incident and studying CCTV footage.

A spokesman for Bluestar buses said the driver had been taken off driving duties while an internal investigation took place. The bus operator was helping police with their inquires, he added.

The crossing was the scene on Wednesday of a dramatic rescue by two schoolboys of an elderly man whose mobility scooter became trapped under the barrier.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Jumping the lights and ignoring warning signs is sadly a sight we see all too often at level crossings.

“Motorists that jump the lights or smash into barriers as they try and beat them coming down can cause great disruption and cost to the network. Crossings are safe to use when used correctly, but misuse can prove fatal. By trying to save a few seconds, you could end up seriously hurt or losing your life.”