A MAN died when he was struck by a passenger train at a quiet unmanned railway crossing.

The man, believed to be in his late 50s or early 60s, was killed instantly on the crossing at Ryton Village, Gateshead, on Saturday morning.

He was hit by the train at the Boat House crossing on the line between Blaydon and Wylam along a stretch of the River Tyne.

It is not known if the man was local, but police say his family has been informed of his death.

Jane Marsh, landlady of the Half Moon pub in Ryton, said she had seen the man driving a W-registration Toyota Corolla along a nearby track hours earlier.

She said: "I saw him at 6.30 in the morning. He was in his car and I thought he was lost because he was going back and forth."

British Transport Police say they have launched an investigation into the incident.

A spokesman said: "At around 9am a male aged 50 to 60 was struck by a train.

"The train was the 8.20am Sunderland to Hexham service. The man remains unidentified.

"At this stage, police believe there are no suspicious circumstances, but we are requesting any witnesses to contact transport police on 0800 405040."