Van man stable after train crash

The van was pushed 200 yards by the force of the crash

A man is in a stable condition in hospital after the van he was driving was hit by a train on one of the UK's best-known steam railways.

Ian Davies was trapped for 45 minutes before being freed by firefighters at a farm crossing on the Severn Valley line near Highley, Shropshire, on Monday.

About 25 adults and children were on the train when the incident happened.

The railway attraction, which was partly closed on Monday, fully reopened on Tuesday morning.

'In control'

The van was pushed 200 yards down the track in the collision and Mr Davies was later flown by helicopter to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

Severn Valley Railway confirmed two members of the public had been having train driving lessons at the time of the crash.

But it said an SVR driver was in control of the locomotive at all times.

The Railways Inspectorate Branch of the Health and Safety Executive, which is investigating the accident, has not revealed any details about its inquiries.

The Severn Valley Railway runs on a 16-mile standard-gauge stretch of line between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire.

A spokesman for farmers said there should be no problems using railway level crossings as long as safety procedures are followed.