POLICE have confirmed that a Warminster man aged 82 died after being struck by a train on Sunday evening at a railway crossing.

The incident occurred just after 6.15pm last night at Hollybush crossing, Warminster.

British Transport Police, Wiltshire Police and South Western Ambulance Service attended the scene where the man was pronounced dead.

His family have been informed.

Passengers were left on board the Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth Harbour service for two hours as lines around Warminster station were closed.

Matt Potter, 17, of Warminster, who was a passenger on the train, said: “The train stopped and nothing was said to us for about 10 or 15 minutes but then word began to spread amongst the train that we had hit someone.”

Casey Snook, 15, another passenger on the service returning home to Warminster, said: “At first we thought we had hit a branch or some stones and there was some confusion after we had stopped.

“But then it came out that we had hit someone and it’s just very nasty.”

Casey’s mum, Kate, 44, said: “I think it was disrespectful that on the boards in the station they said that someone had been hit by a train. I don’t really think that is necessary.”

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “We are not treating the death as suspicious, but will prepare a file for the coroner.”

Delays to services carried on until about 9.15pm.