A Hilperton man has thanked a First Great Western train crew whose quick-thinking meant a broken down train was only delayed a few minutes, after they used toilet water to fix it.

Richard Havergal, 60, an accountant, was travelling home on the 16.49 Great Malvern to Southampton train on Monday when it slowed to a stop near Staverton.

The driver and guard topped up the coolant water with water from the toilet, and the train started up again within minutes.

Said Mr Havergal: “There weren’t many people on the one-carriage train but those who were were concerned they would miss their connection in Westbury. We would have been there a lot longer if they hadn’t done that.”