The driver's daughter escaped unhurt from the crash

An investigation is under way after a man was killed when his car was hit by a steam train on a level crossing in Lancashire.

The engine hit the Land Rover at Irwell Vale Road in Haslingden just before 1300 BST on Wednesday.

The driver Thomas Holt, 63, died from his injuries, but his passenger - his19-year-old daughter - escaped unhurt.

The train was run by the privately-operated East Lancashire Railway, on the line running from Bury in Greater Manchester to Rawtenstall.

Lancashire police, fire service and an air ambulance were called to the crash, which happened as the train pulled into Irwell Vale station on its way to Bury.

The East Lancashire Railway runs both steam and diesel trains on the line, mainly at Bank Holidays and weekends.

There were 16 passengers on board the train, but none were hurt.

Alan Healey, ticket collector on the train, said: "It is very, very upsetting and sudden.

"It's not been known before, to the best of my knowledge, in the last ten years and it's just something you do not expect when you are having a nice day out on the railway."

The level crossing has no warning lights or automatic barriers and drivers have to open and close the gates themselves to cross the line.

Volunteer workers

Most of the workers on the ELR are railway enthusiasts.

Richard Law, from the ELR, said: "We do have some paid staff, but most of the people operating the railway, and the signalmen, are volunteers.

"Having said that, they are all very carefully trained and reassessed for their competence."

The Bury to Rawtenstall line was a popular passenger and freight route until its closure in 1972.

It was reopened by the ELR with the help of Bury and Rossendale Councils in 1991 as a weekend tourist attraction.

Work is being carried out to extend the service to Heywood, Rochdale, later this year.