A man died after a car was hit by a Southampton-bound freight train at a level crossing in Oxfordshire.

The man was one of two people in the car which was hit at the crossing in Sandy Lane, Yarnton.

British Transport Police said the man was pronounced dead at the scene after they were called.

A spokeswoman said: ''It is believed two people were in the vehicle at the time.

''Sadly, one of them, a man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

''The train involved was a Trafford Park to Southampton freight service, and the driver is reported to be shaken but uninjured.

''Officers are working to establish the full circumstances, including how the car came to be on the tracks at the time.''

Train passengers on Cross Country and First Great Western services are being warned that they face delays of up to an hour because of the crash north of Oxford, according to the National Rail Enquiries website.

Buses are replacing trains between Oxford and Banbury.

First Great Western said it was expecting disruption to continue into the early hours of tomorrow morning.