A disability rights group says it will go to the European Court of Human Rights in its fight to reopen a rail crossing for wheelchairs and prams.

Melton Access Group threatened to take its case to Strasbourg after Network Rail installed gates at a crossing over tracks at Melton station.

The gates are closed at 6pm, when staff go home, making it difficult for some people to get from one side of the tracks to the other.

The group has already enlisted the aid of Rutland and Melton MP Alan Duncan.

Network Rail formerly allowed disabled passengers to use a track-side phone to check with the signalman if it was safe to use the crossing when there were no station staff on duty.

But access was blocked in the absence of staff after a number of near-misses when people walked across without checking.

After 6pm, wheelchair passengers en route to Leicester must travel to Oakham – where there is a crossing – and catch another train back through Melton to Leicester.

Melton Access Group chairman and wheelchair user, Norman Slater, said: "The current system means journey times are doubled for disabled people who have to go all the way to Oakham to then get on a train to Leicester.

"We would like to see a lift put in to take us up and across the tracks and take us down to the other platform.

"This is discrimination against disabled people and young mothers using prams and pushchairs

"We're prepared to go to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. We'll be discussing our next move at a meeting of the group tomorrow."

Melton Borough Council's lead member on transport, Coun Ron Marks, met representatives of East Midlands Trains, which manages the station, and Network Rail.

He said: "This affects not only people with disabilities, but also mothers with young children in prams and pushchairs who cannot use the bridge.

"East Midlands Trains and Network Rail say they've had to put up the barriers under Department for Transport guidelines to make it more difficult for people to cross railway lines when there are no staff on duty. It followed an incident when two young girls were killed on a similar crossing.

"I have suggested they could move the crossing closer to the signal box with a light and audible siren with a barrier so the signalman can see what's happening. It would alleviate the health and safety problems."

Mr Duncan said: "It is not acceptable that disabled people should be inconvenienced like this.

"I fail to see why they can't have an electronic card-triggered access to the barrow crossing. It makes me think that they're simply not willing to look at all the options."

A spokesman for Network Rail said they would be contacting the Department for Transport to see if the station could be re-assessed under Disability Discrimination Act legislation.

A spokeswoman for East Midlands Trains said they had no plans to change the access arrangements. Any decision lay with Network Rail.