A man was killed after his car collided with a train on a level crossing in Cumbria yesterday, police said, on the same day rail bosses launched a campaign to highlight the risks of ignoring warning signs.

The fatal incident occurred at around 12.30 p.m. on the rail crossing at Flookburgh, near Grange-over-Sands, when the man's car was struck by the 9.27 a.m. Carlisle to Lancaster train.

None of the train's 32 passengers was hurt but the man was declared dead at the scene.

Police said the train line was closed and a nearby road had also been shut while experts from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch began an inquiry. Earlier yesterday, Network Rail had warned that hundreds of motorists were risking their lives by ignoring warning signs and red lights at level crossings.

The rail operator said there had already been 13 collisions between trains and vehicles this year, meaning Britain was heading for a four-year high in the number of such incidents.