A 22-YEAR-OLD man died after his van was pushed 300 yards along a railway track by a train.

The incident occurred at around 5.30pm yesterday at Wards level crossing near Midge Hall in Leyland.

The 17.06 train service from Preston to Ormskirk was carrying around 60 passengers when it collided with the Vauxhall Astra van.

The passengers are said to have been in a state of shock after the incident but no-one was physically injured.

The local man, who has not been named, suffered fatal injuries when the van was crushed by the on-coming train and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The collision occurred at a crossing known to be used by farming vehicles and market gardeners to access agricultural land on either side of the track.