It was designed to deter reckless motorists from risking lives at one of the busiest level crossings in Sussex.

But a camera installed two years ago to stop abuse of the junction in Beddingham, near Lewes, has not been switched on once.

Villagers have complained of drivers zig-zagging between the half-barriers as trains approach and safety campaigners fear a repeat of the disaster in Ufton Nervet, Berkshire, last November when seven people on an express train died when it hit a car on a level crossing.

The Beddingham camera was described as a "dummy" when it was first installed by Network Rail as part of a £160,000 safety scheme at the crossing.

It was replaced by another camera which also remained inactive.

Murray Brickell, 51, of Kingston Cottages, Beddingham, said: "Although I have never seen anyone zig-zagging between the barriers I have heard plenty of tales about mad motorists doing this. We all thought the camera was working to catch motorists who did. There is no point in having a camera there if it does not work."

A bridge is to be built over the line in a £19 million project but work has yet to start.

A number of motorists have been clocked speeding on the approach to the crossing.

Mr Brickell said: "Trains have been told to slow to 30mph when going across the crossing in the hope of minimising any danger. We shall all be glad when a bridge is built.

"Hopefully they can now get the camera working. It is a bit of a scandal if a camera has been there for the past two years without it catching anyone."

Lewes MP Norman Baker, who used to live in a cottage close to the crossing, said it was farcical.

He said he was aware the camera was not working but had previously kept quiet as he hoped its presence would still be a deterrent.

He said: "It has taken two years and £160,000 and still there is nothing working to prosecute dangerous drivers who weave round the barriers.

"I think local people will be deeply unimpressed by this shambles, particularly as I raised the matter months ago in a face-to-face meeting with the previous transport minister, Kim Howells.

"The Railway Inspectorate has recently expressed concern about the safety of the crossing and for that reason I have supported calls for separation of road and rail here.

"Given they have expressed safety concerns, how can Network Rail justify the two years and £160,000 it has so far taken them to get to this point?"

A Network Rail spokeswoman said the money spent over the last two years was not just on a camera but on a number of projects which had "all played a part in making the crossing safer and helping towards the final aim of building a bridge" there.

She said: "For instance crossing keepers have been employed and train speeds reduced. Numerous surveys have been carried out to assess traffic levels and test if cameras will have an effect on our electromagnetic signalling system.

"Any installations require road and rail closures and the new cameras must interface with Sussex Police's computer systems.

"We are hopeful we are now in the home straight and once Sussex Police have been trained and approve the cameras, motorist misuse and speeding over the crossing will reduce."

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Network Rail, Sussex Police and the Sussex Camera Safety Partnership are working together to finalise the protocols which will get the camera working."