THE mother of a man killed on a level crossing has paid tribute to him after hundreds of people turned up for his funeral.

Tommy Ramshaw was hit by a train at Shoreham level crossing after a night out.

The 20-year-old, born and raised in the town, was pronounced dead while being rushed to hospital.

His mother Jeanette Compton said hundreds of friends, family and acquaintances turned out for Tommy's funeral and wake on Tuesday (March 15).

Mrs Compton, 45, told The Argus: "Tommy was very very popular. He was a talkative character and very quick-witted."

Tommy was a window fitter for local company Shaws Glass and "loved his job", according to his mother.

A crowdfunding campaign along with family donations raised £4,000 for Tommy's funeral, for which his family was "overwhelmingly grateful".

The level crossing in Brunswick Road - where he died on Saturday, February 27 - is just a ten-minute walk from his home.

Mrs Compton added: "Tommy was just going out for a drink, like anyone would on a Friday night."

She does not believe Tommy's death was a suicide, describing him as a happy person, and with other protesters is campaigning to reinstate an underpass at Shoreham Station.

Protesters have urged Network Rail to reopen the subway. Last Saturday (March 12) Mrs Compton attended a protest at the crossing with more than 100 other people. Mrs Compton held a poster which read: "Our Tommy went out on a Friday night, this is all that came home." A picture showed his passport, mobile phone and some loose change.

Local pressure group The Shoreham Society said in a website post that his tragic death "at the crossing has heightened the strength of feeling about the issue", adding there was "increasing dismay at the lack of progress".

A follow-up meeting is due to take place at the Shoreham Centre tonight (Thursday, March 17).

Southern Railway said it was working closely with Network Rail in response to concerns but said there "is no simple engineering solution to restoring the route to the subway".

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Any death on the railway is a tragedy and distressing for everyone involved. Our thoughts are with this young man’s family.

"Shoreham level crossing is fitted with barriers, alarms and warning lights – which is the highest level of protection we can provide. It cannot be closed because of its location.

“Owing to the constricted nature of the site, offering an alternative foot crossing, including reopening the pedestrian link to the subway, would be a serious logistical and financial challenge when the crossing is already provided with good safety features.”

Tommy's death is not being treated as suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner.