VIDEO: Delivery van escapes what would have been a ghastly accident by just inches away from being hit by train #CarryGobySeanKellz #FutureGroupNG via @myentertain9jar

THIS is the shocking moment a delivery van narrowly avoided a “catatstrophic” crash with a train on a level crossing.

A van driver had a shocking near miss with a train on a level crossing[SWNS]

The narrow near miss came when the driver failed to spot warning signals and pulled in front of the oncoming train completely oblivious to the danger.

The shocked driver looked up at the last minute to see the train hurtling towards him but managed to accelerate away in the nick of time.

Video of the near-miss was played in court this week as motorist Alan Borman, 60, was accused of dangerous driving during the incident in Bugle, Cornwall.

The narrow near miss came when the driver failed to spot warning signals on a level crossing

The footage taken from the front of the train shows the van pulling onto the tracks and driving inches away from the horror smash.

Borman, from St Blazey in Cornwall, was cleared of the charge at Truro Crown Court but jurors yesterday convicted him of the lesser offence of careless driving.

The jury heard the incident happened when he was making deliveries in his City Link van on March 19 last year when he turned onto a 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.

The shocked driver looked up at the last minute to see the train hurtling towards him [SWNS]

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

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

However the defence's Nigel Hall said the van driver's quick thinking had 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."

Alan Borman managed to accelerate away in the nick of time [SWNS]

Borman 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 handed him five penalty points to his licence which he said should enable Borman to keep his delivery driver job.

The firm have not said whether they plan to fire Borman or not.