Train drivers have been told to report suspicious activity after a 28-year-old woman took her own life on railway tracks hours after she was spotted numerous times at a level crossing.

Southeastern has issued the order after a driver admitted he had seen the same young woman in a car parked near a crossing at least three times on the day she later stepped in front of his train.

It happened in Monkshill Road at Graveney, near Faversham, where Bonnie Yendell, who worked in Margate, took her own life following an argument with her boyfriend.

The tragedy on February 17 led to the conclusion of an inquest this week in Maidstone, where British Transport Police inquiry co-ordinator Shaun Carroll told the hearing that had the driver alerted signallers to his observations, help may have been dispatched to the scene and prevented the incident.

He said that as a result of the death, new guidance had now been given to drivers.

Coroner Katrina Hepburn heard and read evidence that in the days leading up to the tragedy, Miss Yendell was upset about her relationship with partner Jess Collins, who did not attend the hearing or give a statement.

She saw phone messages between the pair, including one from Miss Yendell which read "all you do is put me down".

Miss Yendell had also told her father, "he just keeps mugging me off ".

But she said she could not leave him because she loved him.

The coroner also referred to statements from Miss Yendell's friends in which they described her as being very upset about her relationship.

On the day of her death, Miss Yendell's silver car was seen several times during the morning parked up close to the crossing by other motorists and also by the train driver, who was on the route between Faversham and Ramsgate.

The incident happened at about 2pm and the train driver told investigators the woman had walked quickly out onto the tracks at the crossing. He believed it to be a deliberate act.

He also thought she may have been on the phone and her mobile was found near the scene.

A post-mortem confirmed Miss Yendell had died of multiple traumatic injuries.

Numerous friends left flowers and tributes at the scene, describing her as "beautiful, kind and unique".

Mr Carroll said the investigation did not raise any third-party suspicions.

He added that Network Rail had been contacted about placing Samaritan notices at the crossing but no such changes had been implemented by the company, although Miss Yendell's family urged the coroner for that to be reconsidered.

CCTV has also been installed at the crossing since the tragedy, but specifically to catch drivers jumping the lights.

At the time of her death, Miss Yendell, who was a former pupil of Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School in Canterbury, was working as a screen printer for a Margate clothing company.

She lived in Whitstable but often stayed with Mr Collins on a caravan park nearby.

The coroner heard that she had not made contact with any mental health services and there was nothing in her medical history to indicate any suicidal tendencies.

But her father told investigators he was aware that his daughter was unhappy in her personal life and had accepted she had taken the action deliberately.

Recording a finding that the death was a suicide, Ms Hepburn said: "I find that she took the action and that she did so voluntarily. There is no reason for her thinking that the consequences could be anything else but traumatic injuries that would be incompatible with life.

"The reasons for doing so were that she was unhappy with aspects of her personal life."

Following the inquest, Miss Yendell's aunt, Carol Lawrence said; "The family are devastated. Bonnie was an A-star grammar school student and very bright."

Family and friends took part in the recent KM Colour Run in memory of Bonnie and raised more than £800 for the Cruse Bereavement Care charity.

Mrs Lawrence said they planned to hold further fundraising events for charities concerned with mental health and suicide in the future.

If you would like to talk to someone in confidence about an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123.

Alternatively, you can find information here.

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