Pictured: Reckless van driver dodges level crossing crash with train by fraction of a second

This is the shocking moment a delivery driver dashed across a level crossing - moments before a speeding train came inches from ploughing into him.

Reckless Alan Borman, 60, did not spot the warning signs before pulling out onto the tracks.

But luckily he looked up to see the train hurtling towards him - and managed to accelerate out of its path just inches before being hit.

The video of the near-miss in Bugle, Cornwall, which was shot from the front of the train, was played at Truro Crown Court where he was accused of dangerous driving.

Borman was cleared of the charge but jurors convicted him of a lesser offence of careless driving.

The court heard he was making deliveries in his City Link van on March 19 last year when he turned right on to the rural crossing.

He later told transport police his view was obscured by foliage and he had not seen warning lights or heard an audible signal.

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Footage taken from a camera mounted at the front of the train showed him emerging on to the track before suddenly flooring his van to get out of the way.

Train driver Jonathan Beale said that in his 26-year career he had had some "close shaves" - but nothing to rival how close he came to hitting Borman's vehicle.

Prosecutor Bathsheba Cassell said Borman had taken a "massive risk" by driving straight on to the level crossing.

But Nigel Hall, defending, argued that his quick thinking avoided a serious accident.

He said: "He chose to floor it and clear the crossing; some may say that was pretty heroic."That was smart driving, he is not at fault for doing what he did. Mr Borman avoided a catastrophe."

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Borman, of St Blazey, Cornwall, was cleared of driving dangerously but had previously offered to plead guilty to driving without due care and attention.

He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £105 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Recorder Malcolm Gibney also issued five penalty points, which he said should enable Borman to keep his job with City Link.

The delivery firm has not said whether or not it plans to sack him.