SPECIALIST search teams are at a rural level crossing where a man died when a train ploughed into his car yesterday.

The Land Rover was hit by the Great Western Railway (GWR) train at Frampton Mansell in Gloucestershire at about 3pm yesterday.

British Transport Police (BTP) said the 60-year-old driver and one of two dogs in the vehicle died following the collision.

A spokesman said the man's family have been informed and are being supported by family liaison officers.

The Land Rover was recovered in the early hours of the morning and the line in the area between Swindon and Gloucester is likely to be closed for some time.

Specialist search teams will be at the scene as police work to establish the circumstances of the incident.

Chief Inspector John Angell from BTP said: "At this stage, this appears to have been an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are with the man's family at this difficult time.

"Our officers have been working tirelessly at the scene throughout the night, and will continue to do so for the rest of the day, to ensure we gain as much information about how the collision happened.

"I would like to thank the community in Frampton Mansell for the tremendous support they gave last night to around 60 passengers on the service, who were given food, coffee and shelter at a nearby pub, until alternative transport could be arranged.

"Local people will see more of our officers in the area throughout the day and I would urge anyone who saw what happened, or feels they may have any information which would be relevant to our investigation, to contact us."

The driver is thought to have been thrown from the car before it was dragged along the railway tracks for half a mile.

The Frampton crossing is a metal gate at the end of a grass track, a public footpath crossing operated by those using it.

Network Rail (NR), which manages Britain's rail infrastructure, said people must use a phone at the site and get permission from a signaller to cross the tracks.

A safety assessment of the crossing in May last year highlighted "deliberate misuse or user error", a "low sighting time" and the number of people using it as being key risks to train drivers.

It is unclear whether the man requested clearance to cross the line, but residents told a passenger on the train the car had broken down on the track.

GWR said the crash forced the closure of the line between Swindon and Gloucester, with replacement buses in operation.