The Herts & Essex Observer has achieved a campaign victory following the tragic deaths of two teenage girls who were hit by a train as they negotiated an unmanned level crossing.

Olivia Bazlinton and Charlotte Thompson were killed last December as they used the crossing at Elsenham station in Essex, prompting calls for locking gates from the Observer and the parents of the two girls.

The Observer launched the Get It Locked campaign, demanding that a locking system be introduced to prevent people using the crossing when a train was due.

Initially, Network Rail said locking the gates would make the crossing less safe and even urged the Observer to stop the campaign.

But Network Rail has now announced that a locking system will be installed at the crossing, along with the building of a footbridge.

Observer news editor Sandra Perry said: “There is no doubt that our campaign played a major part in helping to get Network Rail to act in this way.

“It shows what can be achieved when the newspaper and readers rally round a cause and feel so strongly about something that they just won’t let go.

“The girls’ parents have also praised the campaign and the support of our readers and, while the outcome won’t bring back Olivia and Charlotte, it at least means that this crossing will be much safer in the future and will hopefully prevent other families suffering such a tragic loss of life.”

During the campaign readers showed their support for the Observer’s fight and chief reporter Toby Allanson presented a 3,500-strong petition to Network Rail.